Phones have basically always been this way.

Like did you ever install a custom OS on your flip phone? Maybe a modded OS, but not one rebuilt almost from scratch.

Why have two computers doing basically the same job when you could just have one?

Have the NAS be the media server and save power and get better performance.

If they had said it was a managed device, I never would have accepted it.

Did you really expect them to just give you a 100% free tablet out of the goodness of their hearts no strings attached? If a company gives you a device without any management then they have incompetent IT staff.