I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of Amazon's Fire TV platform. While it certainly gets the job done, it's only recently that the company decided to tackle long-standing complaints about its interface and performance, and the jury is still out on the second point, given that slowdowns tend to be long-term. Amazon also prefers to put its own content front and center, as you're probably aware.
There are reasons to choose a Fire TV device though, such as their low cost, and Alexa integration for smart homes. If you've just got one, there are a few settings you should fix right away to get the smoothest possible experience. With these changes in tow, you shouldn't feel like you're missing (too) much from other platforms.
Video and Audio Autoplay
Who thought these were a good idea?
Perhaps the most crass thing about Fire TV is its ad carousel. Part of the reason Fire TV devices cost what they do is that they're really a vessel for Amazon services, including ads, and the company doesn't even necessarily limit itself to ads for movies and shows — you might end up bombarded by a soap commercial when you pop on your TV at the end of a hard workday.
With both Autoplay options off, you'll probably still see promoted content, it's just that it will be static and easy to scroll past. There's no simple way to block ads entirely, unfortunately.
…