Instead of relying on a company to properly secure their ridiculously over-electronic, over-networked, software-based vehicles, I'd rather just keep driving an older vehicle which just doesn't have any of that in the first place. I have no need for any of that, it doesn't add any value for me.

I honestly don't know what I'm going to do in the future, there's no chance I'm ever going to buy a modern "car", it's going to get tougher and tougher to keep a real vehicle running after enough decades have passed. Of course a non-modern car is infinitely easier for the average individual person to maintain and keep running so I'll be able to keep going for a long time.

Or, maybe, keep your paranoia in check?

How is this paranoia? The ratcheting up of software sophistication does not necessarily add value to the average buyer. What it does do is add cost to repairs for both complex systems/parts and labor. This added complexity and cost make it prohibitive for the average owner to fix or even diagnose problems as the auto industry evolves. This isn't about being paranoid its about being economically conscious of the cost imposed by sophistication.