I agree, wiring and components in the "regulated tech" from a further above post have been in vehicles for years and have their costs manufactured down to nearly nothing. They've got to remember we've had airbags in cars since 1973. They've had time to cheapen up the parts and simplify/standardize them. Same with things like backup cameras, TPMS controllers, etc. Adding in provisions for modern auto-steer and lane assist is what balloons up the price and we end up with another promising EV ending up at 2X the projected sales price.
There is a big difference between adding a different wrap and adding autosteer and adaptive cruise control. Those commercials showing people gleefully driving with their hands off the wheel make me cringe.
Slate is supposed to be customizable... it's okay if you're scared of the tech, you don't need to get it. If the customization ends at "adding a wrap".... not much of a business model
There are about a hundred things that could go wrong inviting 3rd parties to customize key systems that impact driving safety. The only people happy with this type of approach are litigation attorneys.
There are a hundred things that can go wrong every time I drive to work. Doesn’t mean I don’t do it every day!
This is the way, 1000%.
Nothing cringy about taking hands off the wheel if it's lane keeping and dynamically performing cruise. I've used both for 5+ years and while I never take my eyes off the road, and rarely take my hands off the wheel (it will yell at me if I do), it's not scary at all.
I learned how to use my knee a long time ago.
