[Galaxy Note 4 General] fundaprob:
Now we're talking. What you are saying makes sense but to be completely sure you should provide some links or other proof that it is exactly as you describe. Because I am not sure that the following is true:

I have just tried this: enable flight mode (side note: it's permanently on for me), go to Phone, dial 911 and then observe the screen saying "enabling radio, please wait". If what you are saying is true - i.e. if I have removed cellular controls - then (1) how it would be enabling, if no control interface is present? (2) how would it actually call the number (by this I mean that I could hear the other guy)?

Something is wrong here.

Then, you are missing another point. For some reason you are assuming that whatever I have done was done for "security". But it was not. Sure, I am eager to strip off unwanted spyware (please, don't object that Fixmo and co. produces something useful for us). But I am as well eager to remove unnecessary processes to conserve the battery and make the device run smoother. This actually happens. Attached is screenshot of the battery stats - 20 hours on battery with about 5-6 hours of active usage (1.5 hours of gaming) and limited charging while transferring stuff via USB. It virtually doesn't use the battery in sleep mode as you can see. 39% remains, that's given that the device was charged up to 60% or so in the beginning. Sounds good to me unless I interpret it wrong.

(You can also see short Mobile signal spikes - that's my 911 calls. Doesn't look like the device no more controls what happens with its cellular module, does it?)

And to be clear: I understand that it's possible to spy on probably everyone depending on who does that. But stock "spyware" spies on everyone just in case. It's not targeted, it's common. That's what I am against. Targeted spying is completely another story and not my case (bad guys use another means to get rid of it, I'm sure).

I think it is but is it faster and has better battery life? Also, what happens once you switch off flight mode? It happily pours all the sniffed data to the other side. When you have data going not only in but out (online) you are always in catching-up position because patching broken defence by definition takes time after the breach happens (virus, etc.) and before the patch is on your device. Since defences are studied beforehand it doesn't matter how good they are because otherwise there would be no viruses whatsoever.

Now, zurkx, I don't want to offend you or anything but you sound angry and not very constructive. Try this: think of all the features I have removed/lost with my modification and write them down on one side of a piece of paper. Now think of all that remain and write on the other side. I am sure that the left list would be cluttered with "Chromecast", "Clever house", "Fitness clocks", "Mobile printing" and things like that. The other side will stay with "Awesome camera", "1080p video", "Extreme games that don't even heat up the device", etc.

Obviously, the latter is more important to me. I have no use in devices I will never own. It is imprudent to just leave them consuming CPU cycles and battery life.

Guys! I have ONLY removed cellular connectivity and various wireless stuff. I have NOT taken out the CPU, NFC, GPS or whatever. I can still watch video, use regular apps, play games and whatnot.

I do own a cellphone that can only send/receive calls and SMS and has no 3G but it costs $39, not $900. Mind you. I charge it once a month and happy with that.

No, seriously, I can't get it. Can you play World of Tanks on Nokia 3310? What are you saying man? The life doesn't end with LTE!

True and that also doesn't mean that you should just leave the obvious garbage take its place. Because then you can as well abandon HTTPS when using online banking, or turn off WPA2 encryption just because if they wanted to spy on you that wouldn't stop them, so why bother? Also, you never know if your laptop is not preinstalled with another "Superfish" that works around TLS so all that is useless anyway.

Hopefully it's clear that I'm ironizing.

Oh heaven, somebody has got his senses. I thought something was wrong with me. Hurray.