Don't know why this is being downvoted. Manufacturers absolutely shouldn't be designing their products to be unrepairable in this way.

The other day I read about car makers considering using batteries as structural elements to cut weight.

That doesn't necessarily mean they're not replaceable; just that the battery bears load. The engines on most modern motorcycles are structural elements but you can still easily take them out and work on them / replace them.

Of course, the manufacturer could design them to not be replaceable. But it's not a requirement that structural elements are nonreplaceable.

On the contrary: Manufacturers should have the right to design their products in any way they want, so long as the product is safe, and compliant with relevant regulations e.g. labor and environmental laws.

You want a laptop with a replaceable battery, I want one that's as thin as possible while still doing the job. Good thing you can buy a ThinkPad and I can buy a MacBook!

> Manufacturers should have the right to design their products in any way they want, so long as the product is safe, and compliant with relevant regulations e.g. labor and environmental laws.

How is it environmentally friendly to have to glue in a consumable part?

How is it safe that you can't just remove it when it's damaged?

> so long as the product is safe, and compliant with relevant regulations e.g. labor and environmental laws.

Adding to those regulations is exactly what I'm suggesting.

Yes, I'm vigorously disagreeing with you.