@apples_and_pears Yes, far too many companies try to get away with vendor lock-in, even in the world of litter boxes! There are a number of brands that offer a proprietary litter and disposable shelf you slide into the box and replace. It keeps you coming back to them, which is of course the point.
I should note that Liter Robot does offer connected versions with WiFi and an app. I opted for the model without all that.