Optional?!
Imagine the lawsuits if/when somebody dies due to an onboard fire/smoke.
I wouldn’t take this seriously if it weren’t for the fact that Boeing’s propensity for up-charging for basic safety features didn’t contribute to the crashes of two 737 Max 8.
For most utilities (water, electricity), there’s a relatively linear relationship between the tangible value provided (energy used, water dispensed) and the cost to provide it (coal burned, water sourced/treated). Even for wind- or hydro-powered electricity, the amount that everybody uses has a proportional amount of wear on the system and consequent required maintenance.
But not so much for ISPs. Instead, you’re basically paying for a “fictional” amount (speed) of a non-tangible product. Granted, there is a linear relationship to the amount of electricity the ISP uses to provide each bit, but it’s negligible.
Instead, what you’re paying for with internet is essentially to recoup the fixed costs of the provider’s equipment. They do need to upgrade every so often to accommodate more capacity and faster speeds, but this is proportional to speeds provided and not data volume used.
*edit: replied to wrong comment
For starters, you can replace the equivalent of the battery: fuel
Don’t get me wrong; my next car will be an EV. But it is disingenuous to hand wave the reality that EV batteries are expensive and difficult to replace, somewhat negating the economical and environmental benefits.
I do all of my work on my own cars in my home shop, including things like dropping transmissions. This is why I’m able to keep cars for over 20 years. But there’s no way I would be able to even start to replace an EV battery pack simply due to the weight.
But, for me anyway, that’s not a compelling excuse not to get an EV. It’s the way of the future and, by the sheer nature of getting one, I’m promoting their adoption, encouraging their innovation, and driving down the cost overall. So I look forward to it, even if there are some inconvenient truths.
Ah, okay. That makes sense.