Because the panels are commodities and market pressures are such that "Smart" TV features are the battleground that the manufacturers are trying to differentiate on. You can get a reference monitor, which will be the same panel as a $800 Smart TV for $4k.
I am considering [1] replacing my last TV (a 50" Panasonic reference plasma) with another reference monitor, but sadly plasma is no longer an option, unless I strike right. this. very. second.
Insofar as the Smart TV features promote instability and unusability, unwanted behavior, and privacy intrusions -- it may still be worthwhile to purchase dumb TVs even at a premium.
And if more people start avoiding Smart TVs because of the unreliability, unwanted behavior, and privacy issues -- it won't make sense for manufacturers to keep pushing them.
