I fail to see how Carplay is at all clumsy compared with the built in Tesla apps. The messaging via Bluetooth is terrible, and will always be terrible, because it is at the mercy of Bluetooth.
How is a built in audio book app better than just interfacing with Carplay or Android Auto? So what, now I have to load individual audio books into my car? They're already in my phone! Or am I stuck using only Audible or whatever service Tesla gets around to supporting? You will never be able to browse through your phone with the way Bluetooth is either. That's why Carplay and Android Auto exist, they use direct USB or WiFi to have plenty of bandwidth and the necessary hooks to mirror the screen and/or allow the head unit to directly interface with the phone, beyond just generic Bluetooth commands.
Don't even get me started on streaming things like podcasts from my phone or things like my local NPR station's app via Bluetooth. The buttons on the car display don't function other than pause/play, because there's no Bluetooth command for advance 15 seconds, the only hook available is next track. With Carplay, the advance forward 15 seconds buttons all work fine.
Why even have a debate about it? It's an available feature for every single other automotive maker on the planet, for good reason. Most people like it, it works better than most native apps, you don't have to stare at your phone when browsing, it future proofs displays, without extraneous software development needed on the manufacturer's part beyond initially adding it in.
