Exactly. Tesla’s overuse of software for everything is a bug, not a feature. I want knobs and dials and something to cast CarPlay on, and that’s it.

You don't want software, you just want a thing that relies on software. Got it

They don't want software they have to interact with through the car's UI. Everything relies on software these days, I'm sure they want their brakes to keep working too which requires software, but I think what they tried to communicate came through pretty clearly.

This has gotten so far from the point of the original comment, which is that the software of VW and others is often worse. You’re not getting many buttons and nobs in those either, and the few you do don’t work all that well as they’re fake (capacitive) buttons now. You’ll be relying on the software UI for the bulk of the creature comforts of the car - not just stuff that can be replaced by CarPlay.

You said it yourself- even braking requires software these days, so the statement 'i dont want software from my car manufacturer' clearly makes no sense.

Maybe you could say 'you don't want UI software from your car manufacturer' but that's obviously wrong for the market as well- what about users who don't have an apple, or who prefer not to use their phone at all? Cars are moving towards more tech integration, not less, so the entire idea of auto manufacturers not needing to focus on software makes no sense. Zooming back out to the larger point, Tesla is clearly leading the software battle, and that's a battle that matters for consumers.

Maybe I'm showing my age, but braking should not require software. It should be a pedal physically linked (through hydraulics or otherwise) to four sets of brake pads. Maybe an exception for ABS, but even then, ABS can obviously be implemented without software or even electronics.

I get that brake lights can be mechanical, but man would those parts wear down and be unreliable. Also, having your trailer help with the braking is very nice (and communicated via wire).

That's an argument over semantics, having to preface any usage of "software" with a disclaimer about an exact meaning of it is not only cumbersome but pretty damn boring for any online discussion.

I don't think the original comment was made in a way that this nitpicking adds anything to the discussion. Cars have software for 30-40+ years if we interpret the way you are interpreting so it makes sense to ignore that meaning and actually reply to what was meant by the comment...

It's just very tiresome to have these semantics bickering when it's pretty obvious what was meant.

No less tiresome than your dismissal of my argument as semantics. I read the OP as asking to turn the center console into a dumb screen for use with a secondary device, or at least the allowance of any native casting software. That is obviously an absurd idea. Until Apple puts out a car, why would a car maker cede the center console to an indeterminate second platform? Do consumers want Apple play, or Android auto? No, they want the best possible navigation experience, and car manufacturers are not going to rely on third party platforms to deliver an increasing share of that experience (with music, navigation, games, movies) on that center screen. Forgetting even the customer benefit, automakers aren't going to pass on the monetization opportunities the console represents. [1]

My point might be overly deterministic, but it's not semantics. I'm saying software has already eaten the world, and if we're going to be making outrageous wishes, we should be wishing for the car companies to implement better UI software, not wash their hands of it. At least the former is achievable. Arguably, the latter isn't even desirable.

[1] https://www.hotcars.com/why-tesla-doesnt-include-apple-carpl....

I think the obvious interpretation is, "I want to be able to use my car without having to interact with its UI, I just want something I can cast CarPlay to". And that's understandable and unproblematic and doesn't imply that the car should be unusable without an Apple/Android phone.

Tesla's lack of CarPlay means it's far behind in the software battle for a whole lot of consumers.