My understanding is that all new Tesla vehicles have all the necessary hardware, and the features are software-locked behind that $8,000 fee.

Apparently, these features can also be unlocked at a future time, for a higher fee of $10,000.

Just new? My understanding is that all applies to every single Model S ever produced.

Just new ones, since fall of 2016. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Autopilot for more on the different hardware generations.

The 8 camera system with NVidia hardware has been built into all Model S since October 2016. Before they used a Mobileye system with one camera. Only the 8 camera system is promised to achieve full autonomy.

All Teslas come with the hardware needed. The $8000 enables the software.

No. Source: owner of a 2013 Model S

I should say, all Teslas currently being made.

If true, then it seems rather disingenuous to advertise that all Teslas are capable of self driving, if it costs eight grand to turn the sensors on. I wouldn't expect a car advertised to have 1000 horsepower to require a multi-thousand dollar software patch to be able to use more than a hundred hp.

They didn't advertise that all Teslas are capable of self-driving, they just say that the hardware has the capability. They're specifically speaking in computer terms, even - I wouldn't expect that buying a computer advertised as having the hardware to run <game> at 120fps would include a copy of that game.

But if it's a game-console that's advertised as being able to play a particular game very well... but it's also the only console capable of playing that particular game... and they're both made by the same company, seems a bit mean.

It's also equivalent to those high-end network switches with 48 ports that have soft-locks to disable ports on the switch until you fork-out $lots to unlock them: it's an artificial limitation.

I think the sensors are always on, in all cars. Just to gather data.

They have the hardware but you gotta pay for that sweet sweet soft ware