Sure, I could just use the key card instead, and have to pull it out of my wallet every time I want to lock or unlock the car.
Actually, it's not necessary to pull your Key Card out of your wallet to use it. I keep mine behind my credit cards, driver's license, etc. and it never leaves that spot. If I'm puttering around the house and I don't have my phone with me when I need to unlock the car I just swipe my wallet on the B pillar and the car magically unlocks. No problem!
It is not acceptable for a car maker to require buyers either to buy one of the few phones that work consistently (and have an encyclopedic knowledge of which apps must not be installed!!!) or pay an extra $250 for the crappiest key fob of any new car today, or make do with the even crappier key card.
You are mistaken. There are hundreds of phones that work flawlessly if they are not corrupted by crappy apps. And the key fob is not $250, it's only $150, that's the most affordable key fob from ANY manufacturer! I don't want another device that needs regular battery changes so I didn't buy one, the phone/keycard combo works great. But Model 3 key fobs are not as expensive as you claim.
I get it that you are one of the few people smart enough to buy your particular brand and model of phone, and clever enough to know exactly which apps not to install. You are brilliant. You are the elect and will surely be inducted into the heavenly choir when you die.
Hey! No need to cop an attitude and attack the messenger. I can't help it if life mistreats you or you are unhappy for undefinable reasons. For your information, I already had the Samsung phone before we took delivery of our first Model 3. And I've always avoided crappy apps because I know how they can mess up the phone user experience - this is not unique to the Model 3, there are millions of poorly written apps out there.
Bluetooth is a wonky protocol that works most of the time, but is not nearly reliable enough to allow the masses of Tesla owners to be able to always get into their car when they want to.
Bluetooth is not a "wonky protocol that works most of the time", it's an industry standard for wireless communication that has been improved and had its capabilities expanded over the years with well-defined protocols manufacturers and software developers must adhere to. It
is the industry standard for short-range wireless data and communication primarily because it is so robust using techniques like Adaptive Frequency Hopping and Advanced Error Correction to further increase the utility and reduce interference from other transmissions. Bluetooth is used in mission critical applications in space, oil and natural gas industries, manufacturing and automotive industries. If you are having issues, I suggest you get a phone that has Bluetooth that adheres to the standards and is not corrupted by poor app management.
Alternatively, use one of the three other methods Tesla has provided to unlock your car (key card, optional fob or the cellular network). If none of those are acceptable in your "glass half full" world, then perhaps you should go back to your beloved Prius that works exactly how you prefer.
Personally, I love the seamless functionality of my phone doubling as my proximity key authentication because it's one less device to carry or lose or replace batteries in. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution.