all modern cars are connected - for the maps if nothing else

Carplay and Android Auto are better than any other in built infotainment shit. I do not see this as valid. Nor that does mean that firmware on the car should be writable from those systems.

I don’t see how a dealership adds anything other than cost which will always discourage updates from being made at all.

Thus why I said...

I would go a step further and make it possible to have it opt-in for car manufacturer to send out cd/usbs to update firmware.

Then any dick or harry can do it on their own.

But honestly whenever I say "dealer" I really mean any repair shop.