With a Real Remote Control (that nobody owns except for the coffee table that nobody owns): Anyone involved in a group viewing can just push the pause button when that is useful for one or more members of that group.
Nobody's locked-down personal pocket computer needs to be involved at all for this most mundane task.
At home, it just pops up for everyone on the local network so anyone can do it. Works nicely for us to be honest. I quite like it. And the remote works too. Overall, I’m quite happy with this stuff.
The only thing is that if you set up with all HomePods you can have your TV audio go to them too in stereo. Very cool. And Google doesn’t have that feature.
The remote does work. This is an added convenience. To be clear, the remote continues to work. At no point does the remote stop working. If you use your phone to cast, the neighbour can still use the remote to pause. If you don't give the neighbour the SSID, he can still use the remote. Your neighbour does not need to be on your network. If he's on your network the remote and his phone will work. If he's off your network, the remote will work. The remote will not stop working. Hope that clarifies.
The original argument was in favor of the OG Chromecast's method, wherein: There is no dedicated remote laying around that anyone can pick up and unambiguously make work.
It is good to have options.
(And modern Google-produced streaming devices, whether they are good or bad, do provide options.)
Nobody's locked-down personal pocket computer needs to be involved at all for this most mundane task.
Simplicity.