for the network proxy setup, basically just set a hardcoded ip for your machine with the wrong gateway address. then have another machine on your network, probably an older pc with linux, running squid proxy server or similiar. then just set the proxy server address in your browser config (not IE). Chatgpt or google searches will have all the details.

I am still looking for a reasonably priced network appliance that has the features I want baked in so I can just plug it in and go but havent searched hard yet. Lots of junk on windows now reaches out like news, weather, telematics, and every app that thinks they should auto update on us then pester us until we comply. Its hardly our own computer anymore

Try running a packet sniffer overnight and see how much traffic there is its disgusting. It was easy to get XP dead silent.