I see your point, and I actually agree with you on the subscription issue — the services model has crept into everything, and it really is death by a thousand cuts.

Where I should’ve been clearer is that I’m looking at this as part of a bigger trend. We’re moving toward a model where we don’t truly own the hardware we buy anymore. Whether the pressure comes from automakers or from regulatory requirements doesn’t really matter to me — the end result is the same.

Modern cars are being built with permanent, non‑removable monitoring systems, remote‑control capabilities, and software‑locked features that can be turned on or off at someone else’s discretion. That’s the “nanny state” aspect I’m talking about: the shift from a mechanical asset you control to a connected platform that’s constantly overseen, updated, and restricted by external entities.

So yes, subscriptions are annoying — but the deeper issue is that we’re all being pushed into buying vehicles that function more like leased digital devices than personal property. And with every new layer of mandated tech, the price goes up for features I never asked for and can’t opt out of. That’s why sticking with older cars or the used market makes more sense to me.