There is great benefit to the guys selling it. :) I needed to get some tires mounted here and the local tire shop quoted a lot to mount them and then another $15 a tire for nitrogen. I got them mounted at Costco for $15 and Costco even uses nitrogen at no additional cost. I agree, the N thing is BS, just a way to add $$ to the bottom line.
I said similar in another post. It also was about DOT insisting on sealed beams, where the lens and bulb are combined. Even in the
70s European systems had lens and bulbs that were brighter and focused the light where it should be. Funny thing though, I've seen testing done in recent years and how good lights are on today's car is all over the map. Even from the same manufacturer, one car can have great lights, another one crap ones. And the pictures of it are stunning, the good ones, for example you can see the side of the road way ahead where a pedestrian or bicycle could be, the other it's dark. I think a lot of it is styling at the expense of function. +1Lab and
And if they don't hold up, the dealers will be the winners. That will be $400 to replace that light, sir. Lights might not be the worst example. BMW X5 has an electric radiator/AC fan. That's fine, but those morons also decided that one speed, on/off wasn't good enough. So, they made it variable speed with the electronics in the fan motor that sits on top of the radiator, gets exposed to water, salt, etc. So, of course they don't last. They are $500 plus labor, the dealer makes good $$$. Even if you DIY, it's another example of big trouble, you have to pull the whole front shroud to do the repair. It's not just the motor, it's the whole fan and shutters and framing that go with it. Maybe they will cover that it that class on today's repairs that are so much easier? :)