Those TV box works using your internet. It does not and will not have any effect on your Astro IPTV whatsoever.

I believe you'll find more info here.

https://forum.lowyat.net/HomeEntertainment

Personally, i've always prefer HTPC, old school as it may. I can game on it on demand and have better software/app flexibility.

Actually, the bill wont be that high if you use decent hardware. Common old mentality is, just a bare cheap set of hardwares to stream movies or minimal to play 4k vids, that's where your bill racks up. If you setup a decent rig, at least skylake i7 onwards, your cpu utilization will be very very low, thus, consuming less power. If you get older.. say... 1st/2nd gen i5, to simply play a 4k alone would put your CPU load up to 100%, that's where it hurts.

For me, since i occasionally game at the hall with my boy, therefore its pretty much a full blown gaming PC with a 1080ti. When alone i'll game on my proper PC instead

I believe he was reffering to electric bill. No worries if you opt for TV box or NUC, they are almost negligible.