[Nexus Player Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] GabbyWC:
The Nexus Player will handle almost everything in your list.

* Kodi works quite well on the Nexus Player. It can be downloaded directly from Google Play which means it will automatically update and won't require sideloading APKs.

* Netflix comes preinstalled on this device and generally works fine as long as your Nexus Player has Android v5.1.1 build LMY48J installed. You might want to adjust your TV's aspect ratio modes while watching movies if the black bars from widescreen content bother you. I don't use the app very often so perhaps other users can comment on things like surround sound support.

* Google Play Music comes preinstalled on this device and is linked to your account like the rest of the apps from Google. The only issue I see with it is that the on-screen album cover doesn't move around like it does when you cast from the app but the Nexus Player's "Daydream" screen saver mode cycles through different images after a few minutes without user interaction. Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) will support Bluetooth audio streaming which means you can pair the Nexus Player with a sound bar and play music that way.

* Google Play Movies comes preinstalled and seems to work fine. It probably is the most convenient option to rent or purchase movies or TV shows on this device. I don't use this service enough to say much about it but the free movies I have in my account are synced and easily accessible. As with Netflix, you may want to adjust your TV's aspect ratio during playback.

* Spotify is the only thing in your list that doesn't work well on the Nexus Player. You can try sideloading the app but it may not be easy to use with a remote. The developers of Spotify don't support casting either, as far as I'm aware.

* You can download Android TV games from the Google Play Store and some of them will be playable with the remote but others will require a gamepad. You can either use a separate Bluetooth gamepad or root your Nexus Player and pair a PS3 or PS4 controller with it using the paid Sixaxis Controller app.

* Yes, you can use your phone to control the Nexus Player with the free Android TV Remote Control app from Google. It is rather basic, though, compared to a paid root app combination like DroidMote Server & Droidmote Client which is definitely more versatile. If you're willing to buy a Flirc infrared USB dongle for about $24 USD, you can even use a universal remote to control the Nexus Player. I have one and it works very well after being programmed for convenient usage with my Philips SRP5107 universal remote.

* Casting to the Nexus Player generally works well but there may be a few apps which work better with an actual Chromecast. I prefer casting to the Nexus Player because it supports 5 GHz wireless AC while the Chromecast only supports 2.4 GHz wireless N.

I've never used a Roku device but the Nexus Player provides great value for the price and you can do a lot with it (especially if it's rooted). As for the limited content selection of Netflix Canada, you can use a smart DNS service such as UnoTelly to "change your region" and access content that's licensed for other countries. UnoTelly even offers a free trial and up to 3 free months of service if you mention them positively on social media. In conclusion, let's answer your question. Is the Nexus Player right for you? I certainly think so.