Moderator Input:
A super-brief note, given my hyper-limited bandwidth, to provide a great big Thank You to all participants for recent discussions that have remained lively while sticking - essentially - to topic and have avoided fireworks.
Non-Mod input:
I have been contemplating the concept of SpC usage of Model 3s and Tesla's revelation that a usage fee of some sort will apply, as follows:
Let us assume there is an upfront fee for SpC access of $X. Now, unlike every other feature of the automobile - whether motor or battery or seats or carpet or windshield - that specific feature of the vehicle will retain precisely 100% of its utility to any potential secondhand owner of the car.
So now let's take a look at two Model 3s, using indeterminates to stand in for numbers, the first one without and the second one with SpC access. Their initial costs will be $Z and $Z+X.
The appropriate prices for these two cars as used vehicles, some time down the road, will be diminished by Y%....but not quite. Rather, the correct prices should be (Z*1-Y) and (Z*1-Y)+X. This is a spectacular distinction that is without precedent.
THEREFORE - to my way of thinking, the only criterion a potential buyer should consider when contemplating whether or not to add SpC accessibility is his or her NPV of that upfront $X. There are very, very few non-depreciable assets in our lives - but this is one of them.
Caveat? Yes. The above assumes that Tesla will offer Model 3 accessibility via the bulk upfront charge, as it did with 60kWh Model Ss. Were it to go the route of assessing a per-use fee or annual access subscription, then the above does not apply.