Thingino firmware on a cheap camera alleviated any concerns I had about the camera bypassing my DNS and phoning home. There are a list of compatible cameras on the Thingino website, and I got some help with installing the firmware on the Thingino discord. Integrates well with Frigate, and others such as TinyNVR.

The second they activate that thing their servers are gonna be slammed by tons of homelabbers syncing their shit all at once

To answer your question, because they’ve never done drugs. people who blame the problem you describe solely on drugs don’t know anything about drugs, except that they’re scary and they hurt you.