Even before subscriptions became normalised cars had a support cost, parts and servicing, especially for genuine or genuine reconditioned parts.

Strictly speaking, you can avoid the dealers and the part costs by working with mechanics, wreckers or aftermarket manufacturers but those have extra costs and voided warranties.

Parts sales are a major income stream for manufacturers, especially as they need to compete on car sales, but once you’re locked in on that car they mark up the prices on the parts long term.

Though admittedly enshittification means worse and more expensive parts and legal threats to aftermarket manufacturers.

There’s magic and then there’s complexity in tech (at least this is how I think about it).

Video calling, pure magic, simple to use with major benefits.

Complex business management software that requires a degree to use? Complexity almost for complexity’s sake to lock an organisation into a support contract.

Web stores? Usually magic, especially with refined payment processing and smooth ordering. Can verge into over complex coughAmazoncough.

Internal network administration (Active Directory) and cloud tech, often complexity for complexity’s sake again.