if you trade in the dealer barely looks. The buyer sure, but unless you sell private party you recoup nothing. I have traded STIs with peppered front ends, which have soft paint like Tesla, and not once did a dealer care either way.I agree, I would never spend $7000 on protection. That's a bit much. Especially when you can get it way cheaper.
I am getting the front end of my car PPF'd because I personally hate stone chips, and in Canada our winters can be intense. So it is worth it. It's a $1600 cost, plus Im doing a 5 year ceramic coating for $900. Total comes to $2500 Canadian ($2077 US). For me the benefits outweigh the costs. I love a shiny beautiful car, and I'd argue the low quality paint makes it even more crucial to protect it. Don't go overkill , but you should have some pride of ownership.
I guarantee if you go to trade in your car, the new owner would be willing to pay an extra $1000 for a well kept car with zero stone chips, and glimmering paint opposed to a chipped/dirty dull paint car. I know I certainly would.
I think at the right price, sure do it. But 7k is absolute insanity on Model 3. while i understand these cars are expensive, they are the Tesla econo car.
Ceramic coating warranties are snake oil though. 5 years is so laughable too. If you don't drive the car, only hand wash, only use the proper techniques and soaps and re-up chemicals, then sure, might last. But the average consumer is getting robbed blind by the coating industry as a whole. I legit walked out of a ceramic pro presentation at SEMA because I started getting pissed at the lies they were spreading to people at an industry only event.