Eventually the cost of a 5G module and data plan will be low enough that these appliances won't need any help to phone home.

You don't even need 5G when things like Amazon Sidewalk exist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Sidewalk

Echo devices serve as internet-to-sidewalk bridges by default so it's pretty extensive, Amazon claims >90% of the US population is covered.

If you have an echo, you’re probably not too worried about this.

It doesn't have to be your Echo, a Sidewalk client can get low-bandwidth internet access through any Echo that it can reach over LoRa, which goes pretty far.

Then I will finally be able to use the full power of aluminum foil rolls from Costco.

And you won’t be able to do anything.

That’s why regulating some base standards and labelling is essential.

I can't guarantee that they were never open to the public, but I can say that the waterloo steam tunnels were definitely not designed to be accessible. The tunnel from V1 to main campus is narrow and has a ladder about halfway. Also the steam pipes and many building controls seem to be out in the open and unprotected.

I'm not sure how this photographer got down, but about a decade ago there was a way to sneak in through an access panel.