Exactly. I detest this "feature" since power savings are minimal (in the context of a computer connected to mains power) and stress is placed on the motor and heads from the constant spinups.
In many cases they're cheaper and just as good, which is why people deshuck externals and use them for their NAS or simply as regular storage. Depends on the brand, model and local prices, and of course, such a process means saying goodbye to the warranty.
A fairly unknown fact: multi-terabyte 2.5" HDDs are taller than usual, approximately the size of three "normal" ones. You can only pack so much data in one or two platters after all.