I think that there is a middle ground here.
For MrSafe, I would like to say that in the Avast forum is very rare to find some censorship or alike. I don't think that users here are denying you an answer or telling you that your questions are not welcome. You need to consider that the average forum user here is not part of Avast Team. The "exact" technical answer may need some specific Avast developer to invest some time to explain "every" module that tries to send some kind of data. As you can read in this topic from several answers from several different users, there are several modules trying to do their best which may include sending information.
I am not so sure that any developer would like to invest such time to explain in such a detail every module that sends some kind of data (or request it).
I am also not sure that there are many reasons to request such a detail explanation. The "necessary" explanations are out there, whether it is the help file, or some knowledgebase article, or in this forum.
I indeed can understand the concerns. And I think the question is still valid. But just as you won't ask Google for an answer about how they choose their ads to be displayed to you in particular, it is somehow unrealistic to ask the same from Avast Team.
An Avast developer also "chipped in" in this topic. That is not rare, but it is not happening in every topic.
So a more general answer has been provided. Several examples of the goals to those connections have been mentioned.
You may trust Avast Software, or you may decide not to. If you (or anyone else) finds something "strange", they are always welcome to ask a "specific" question about a "specific" situation. A real "trojan" won't give you such an opportunity.
You are free to block anything you like, as with anything in your computer. You received some answers or tips about that strategy. If you still think you are safer closing some shield, or blocking some connection, that's still your choice.
I don't think any "common" user of this forum is able or knows enough technical details so to answer your question more specifically. If a developer wont answer it, then as with other things is still your choice what to do in your system.
You are still welcome to ask about doubts. If you can provide specific behaviours or situations with specific details, then maybe someone can answer (but the possibility that your question would not get a satisfying answer is also opened).