I just want a printer that doesn’t require you to upload your gcode to their cloud server before getting permission from them to print.

Even on Bambu’s locked-down firmware you can just toss the gcode on the SD card and print that way if you don’t want to deal with their cloud service. Or throw it on a flash drive and plug into the USB port.

My previous printer could ONLY function via SD card, so I’m kinda used to that anyway.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Bambu locking down their firmware and forcing everyone through their cloud service is shitty. But you can print without it still.