Won’t comment on auto industry specifically but believe sometimes it can be true because the two are not mutually exclusive.  Customers’ freedom of choice doesn’t preclude some companies or businesses or entire industries for that matter from acting in selfish interest or unethical behavior.  Free markets are a great tool for societies to prosper yet require some level of regulation to prevent abuse in pursuit of profitability.   One clear example is the cigarette industry.  Even though people have the right to say no to smoking it did not prevent companies from doing everything possible to get more customers hooked through advertising and making products more addictive.  It is (or was) legal in a purely free market sense but is that what society wants or needs?   For me it’s a tough subject because I find the use of a 9,000-pound pickup to mostly transport a +/- 150-pound human from point A to B absurdly inefficient, yet at same time believe in our right to buy large vehicles that are controversial; within reason of course.   I don’t know of a great solution that is equitable to all hence difficulty in taking sides.

Looks too boxy. 😀

Little by little all those unnecessary features add up to much higher costs.  They also add more complexity and increase probability of malfunction and subsequent higher repair costs.  IMO they make sense as options on higher-cost vehicles but expecting most buyers to pay more for things they can easily do themselves, not to mention that some drivers actually prefer manual controls regardless of costs, is a poor business decision.  Evaluated individually each item or feature probably seems insignificant in added costs, but taken together I’m not sure they are worth it; especially features that are rarely used.

I haven't been impressed at all with Toyota interiors...same thing that people have said here-cheap and chintzy inside.    I've been in Hyundias and Kia rentals and their switch gear seem to be almost identical to Fords for some reason. 

Sorry for the delayed follow up.  No luck with hard reset either... Time for a PITA service appointment.

India is RHD. More than you ever wanted to know about LHD-RHD: https://www.aceable.com/blog/countries-that-drive-on-the-left-side-of-the-road/#:~:text=Driver's ed 101: In America,70 countries follow this rule!

I use the RS option on both the Mustang and Corsair.  In fact , that is the only setting I ever use on both vehicles. 

I would put rain sensing wipers in the same category as headlights that automatically come on when needed and those that can automatically switch from low to high beam.   Vehicles without availability of those features scream cheap.   I would forgive them not being included on the lowest cost base model but not on higher trims. 

I had a Rav4 rental while my car was being repared a few years ago (current gen model), and I feel it was nice enough, but overrated and had a lot of things that automotive writers would've skewered Ford/domestic brands for, but they get a pass in Rav4 for some reason. I wonder if a lot of your issues are being fixed in the new Rav4?     I think you still have to twist the control to the sensitivity setting instead of the "off" position?

I love the RS wipers in my F350, and they work nearly perfectly.  In the Mach-E, they aren't near as good.  I miss them when I drive the Bronco in the rain.