I think
mitchjav's concerns are valid. I had the same user interface concerns that caused me to delay my cord cutting for a few years, especially since I was able to keep getting good deals. My experience and comments are documented on the old thread.
However, mitchjav, I'll say it was worth it to cut the cord, despite this slight downgrade in User Interface (UI) experience. The lack of sports during pandemic that I was paying for pushed me to cut the cord and I'm a streaming animal now.
TL/DR: After a week or two, this concern goes away once you get proficient with the typical streamer UI. It can be an impediment, however, for people with mild dementia who are unable to adjust. Go carefully in those cases. It may not be the best for our parents. Otherwise, give it a chance. I'm now very comfortable with it and only occasionally miss the ability to punch channel numbers. I also explore deeply and find shortcuts and ways to customize your guide. That helps a lot.
Long story: Here's the thing. The concept of "channel numbers" is baked into the UI from the turn of the 1900s. It started with radio. In a slight twist, these early radios were kind of like the "up/down" button of a streaming remote. There was no detent. You slowly dialed to get your station. Still, the numbers were there. Eventually, some radios had "favorites" you could punch to. Then when TV took off in the 50s, each channel had a simple number and detent (which could be fine tuned). For 50 years, we either punched in numbers or turned a dial that clicked to a detent.
All this history is to say that yes, it is a change to not have channel numbers. It also explains how the older you are, the more foreign it is to view without channel numbers.
Enter streaming. The original streaming services didn't have a concept of linear-live viewing. So, no channels were necessary. (Aside: I worked on a computer in the late 80's that a cable company was experimenting with to do a form of streaming. Yes, 80s! It would download movies over a few days.) For streaming, you'd pop from show to show or movie to movie. This occurred at the same time that Apple was revolutionizing the iPod with the most minimal UI possible. Before this, it was considered that the more buttons the better for audio devices.
So, devices like Roku or Firestick didn't need channel numbers. They very much copied the iPod to keep it simple. Apple TV, meanwhile, wanted to push even more minimal and created a remote with a mystery touch pad that has not been well accepted. You know, they had to go beyond the classic iPod and instead push the limits like the iPod touch. Still no number buttons.
Time marches on, and new services that provide live TV via internet-only appear. Call this Linear-OTT. "Linear" services would sure benefit from channel numbers since the live TV is characterized as channels, with most services now imitating the old cable TV guide. However, most of these services are used by people with Firesticks, Rokus and Apple TVs. Whoops, no way to punch in a number.
Meanwhile, PlutoTV and AT&T TV both have listed channel numbers. For Pluto, there's no way to use them, except for reference. AT&T TV has their own special box and remote that gives you a more cable-like experience including numbers. But, you'll pay for that - a lot. When you watch AT&T TV over other streaming devices, you go back to the old "up/down".
There are a lot of shortcuts that you can discover. For instance, on my Tablo, a two button press of down-then-left flips me back to the last channel. It is the two button equivalent of the "return" button on older remotes. This is one of many examples that unfortunately you have to explore to find.
I predict that eventually we may see the return of button numbers on some streaming models. We'll see. Also, everyone is working on a more integrated experience like power-on landing you on a favorite service, for example.
Good luck! This UI issue really stopped me for a long time. I forced myself to go for it during my two week trial on YTTV and became proficient enough to realize it wasn't that bad. I haven't looked back since.