From a network component perspective NAT is not a Firewall. It might run on the same device but it is entirely different function
A stateful Firewall is what provides the security. That has nothing to do with NAT. You can port forward a service or you can create a firewall exception. They both do exactly the same thing.
Sure but the point was that nat allows you to choose private addresses that are by default not routed: the NAT becomes the only way internet traffic can reach your devices
From a network component perspective NAT is not a Firewall. It might run on the same device but it is entirely different function
A stateful Firewall is what provides the security. That has nothing to do with NAT. You can port forward a service or you can create a firewall exception. They both do exactly the same thing.
Sure but the point was that nat allows you to choose private addresses that are by default not routed: the NAT becomes the only way internet traffic can reach your devices
I never suggested NAT is a firewall.