Raspberry Pi is actively preventing enthusiasts from upgrading soldered memory to a larger configuration even when the replacement chip is technically compatible. The company says the restriction is intended to discourage unofficial high-capacity resales.
I get the sentiment, but this is a computer’s active component. If they can detect that the RAM is non-stock, they can just have the UEFI say that in POST. Problem solved with about the same amount of code as their current “solution”.
The fact that there are multiple solutions to the problem they say they’re trying to solve, but they chose one that is both anti-consumer and protective of their upcharged models makes it obvious what their real intentions are. Follow the money and it will lead you to the truth nearly always. In your example, the car company was willing to lose money.
Fair.