I am amazed at the outpour of responses. One thing I learnt in the process is that not only am I not alone, but that some in this group perhaps learnt it already a few times - so they are either sympathizing (thanks
@Garlan Garner ), or, irritated (responses like seen it too many times). I can understand both sides. Let's not forget that Tesla is just starting to sell, and many more will come to forum to share their just-experienced obsolescence (in my case, it is too strong and too fresh - in 24hrs - well said
@bro1999). My car is getting the paint protection film & tint as I speak - only to emphasize that I intend to keep the car longer than many in this forum might be thinking of.
In my view, Tesla is building a different type of car - a car, that gets smart over time, and delivers more. Some features, like cup-holders for rear seats, are not in that league. AP2.0 is a generational leap, and a smartly designed car should have "pluggable" components that can keep the car relevant for years. That would be the differentiator that we need coming from bay area. This is the next-gen car, that has nothing in common with Detroit cars. These cars get OTA upgrades, these cars can get heart transplants. Why not? We shouldn't bring old-school thinking into play while talking about Teslas. It doesn't take rocket science to design a "slidable" MotherBoard that sits on a fiberoptic wired network and change the CPU (intel server blades have been doing this on the same "chassis" for the longest time) as often as one likes. Hubble and many such designs kept getting h/w upgrades (all while still in space) for ages. Isn't Musk promising us a world of difference - but it looks like the current owners (ok, now I will only speak for myself) are the deep-pocketed guinea pigs helping Tesla to get to their goal. Which may be OK - and I think Musk thanked the S & X owners to help fund 3 - so I get it, mostly. I had more thoughts in my original content how they COULD make design enhancements to keep current cars ready for future h/w enhancements.
Financial view: May be a 40-50k drop in value in 3yrs isn't a big deal for the majority of the current Tesla owners, but it is not the same for rest (who might be buying their first Telsa because they are bought into the whole idea it is a tech-car thing from silicon valley, not a detroit sheet of metal). Let's not compare a $800 iPhone once-a-year upgrade with a $90-100K car that was promised by Musk to be "smart" and "get smarter". We all know, that with the intro of the new h/w and a completely new s/w platform that runs on that h/w, there will likely be not much s/w dev going on with the MOBLEYE platform now.
I agree with the comments that this is still a great car and will give joy for years to come. But I think I have a right to vent and share my thoughts a bit, just like perhaps some of you did when you faced the same, months or yrs ago.