Torrenting is one thing but I wouldn't be trusting a VPN to protect from anything to attract the heat of the law or government.
Xianshi
I'd try each application one by one. Maybe write a script to monitor load and stop the program if it goes past your desired threshold and notify you.
It could also be a setting in some app like photoprism or immich ... I think one of them uses tensorflow to classify images. That would increase the load if thats running in the background.
Maybe try them with an empty directory so there is no data to process and see if you encounter the error. Then add some data and see how the load is.
If it doesn't have to be a TV but just a screen a monitor may be an option. Otherwise I'd look at eBay or something like that where people are selling old ones.
I prefer x264 since all my devices can play it, though x265 is great for file sizes.
Regularly delete stuff, you dont want your sd card popped out and accessed. The devices are encrypted but the sd card is not ... At least my device doesn't have that option. I also ensure I have backed up my 2FA codes if the phone is lost or stolen, you dont want to be locked out of your accounts. freeOTP+ allows you to export them.
I used to cover them camera with tape but I have to many signal video calls for that to be workable.
I'd rather they just focused on making the browser better to be honest. Let the EFF or another org do this type of work