I was under the impression that it was recycled/thrown out-I don't see how the economics of that would work. 

https://www.piher.net/news/steer-by-wire-ensuring-redundancy/   https://www.arnoldnextg.com/company/blog/safety-redundancy-why-drive-by-wire-must-be-fail-operational

Given how "good" an average person can drive, the first reaction is going to be to slam on the brakes. I don't think its going to be as big of an issue as it seems. 

But yet Ford isn't losing major parts of its market share short term either by doing this.    I'm guessing they'll be riding out the next 24 months or so till the new products start hitting. 

But look how that has worked out for the past couple vehicles that did that. I'd rather see this grow like the Maverick did vs trying to sell it like the Lightning or Cybertruck. 

Many current and past Ford owners are facing the same dilemma globally since Ford's lineup is shrinking. A lot (particularly those not looking for a 4x4 or truck) have migrated to other brands. While I'm happy Ford continues to build its icon range (F-series, Mustang, Bronco), they've seemed to lost interest in building vehicles people want. Ford's rivals continue to build compact ICE/hybrid CUVs/SUVs because they still sell a ton of them both in and out of North America.  

Agreed regarding it not being a Bronco or Mustang. Otherwise, I could care less about reservations although they have potential to generate a lot of marketing noise. 

A few years ago, I used my truck to jumpstart a tractor, and I discovered that the clamp on my jumper cables was just long enough to reach from the battery’s positive terminal to its negative terminal. That, funnily enough, will pop the high-current fuse built into the positive battery lead, which takes out the EPAS.    Let me tell you what—that truck is fairly nimble with EPAS working, but it’s a bitch and a half to drive with it offline. It was damn near undriveable; I had to borrow my mom’s car to drive to the nearest Ford store for a replacement fuse, but at least with the mechanical connection I could’ve steered it if I’d needed to drive it somewhere.

…but not what was delivered to customers. They took the windows and seats out and shipped them back to Europe for use on the next batch. That all happened before delivery.   That said, I also disagree with @Sherminator98. I mean, I’m sure they’d at least sell in the dozens.

(571) 2020 Ford's All-Wheel-Drive Transit Cargo Van and Passenger Van - YouTube