Disable smart objects nonsense.

[Chris3000]

I don't need smart objects for anything, ever. How can I turn it off for good? Thanks for any help. 

[Trevor.Dennis]

@Chris3000  have you read about how they work and the advantages they have?  After selections and masks, they might be Photoshop's most important feature, so please give them a chance to grow on you.

If you really can't abide seeing them in your UI, then you can remove them from some menus like this.

Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts

Menu For: Application Menus

Scroll down to and expand Layer

Continue scrolling down to Smart Objects and click to remove the Eye icon

If you turn off the one I have highlighted, then all Smart Object functions will no longer appear on that menu.

I am not sure exactly where this will affect.  They might still be present in the Layers Panel when you right click a layer.  I just don't know.

I am now shedding a tear on your behalf  😞

Would you like to know some of the ways Smart Objects can help you?  As in _REALLY_ help you?

[Chris3000]

I don't see those visibility boxes here. 

[Ged_Traynor]

@Chris3000 you need to click on the menu tab

[rayek.elfin]

I do agree with the OP: Smart Objects are a hassle. Yes, they have their usage context: in particular when layer stacks become overly complex and performance is hindered, then converting to a Smart Object can be useful. Or for organization of projects, for example.

And yes: Smart Objects are an outdated concept. It can be tackled in more productive ways, though. For example PhotoLine treats bitmap layers like independent objects with their own resolution, bit depth, image mode, colour management, etc. and these remain editable within the layer stack. Adjustment and filter layers are non-destructive by default as well.

So no need for arbitrary inconvenient Smart Objects: bitmap layers retain all their original properties, while still destructively editable. 

And yes, PhotoLine does allow layer(s) to be converted to 'Smart Objects' when required or wanted. But non-destructive and destructive workflows are not mutually exclusive as they are in Photoshop. 

We often forget that Photoshop isn't the only 'way' of doing things because many users are stuck within Photoshop's bubble... Yet Photoshop 's core workflow is stuck in the past in more ways than one.

[Chris3000]

PS alternative, you say?!?!?! Take my money!

[Bojan Živković]

Do you mean when placing images? Go to Preferences > General and uncheck Always Create Smart Objects when Placing.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Yes, Bojan.  I didn't think of that aspect.  I can imagine that being annoying for someone not used to them because of the limitations of non-raster layers. There was a recent thread talking about the Healing brush, for instance, but if you set it to sample all layers and work on a new layer above the SO, you get past that issue and maintain the non-destructive advantages of them.

[Chris3000]

Thanks, but I had that box unchecked already and still, a generative fill layer showed up un editable. 

[Stephen Marsh]

@Chris3000 – Did the reply from @Bojan Živković solve your problem? @Trevor.Dennis makes good points (or would like to) as a case for using Smart Objects for certain situations. We do understand that there are pros/cons.

[Chris3000]

It's just an annoyance that Adobe has users conviced is convenient. If I add a layer to an image, I might need to edit that layer, yes?