Car infotainment should be able to be optioned away.

But the infotainment is where they collect all your data, which is their goal.

The NHSTA requires a backup cam, which requires a screen. Since the screen is there they might as well make it something they can upcharge for.

I do wish they’d keep it small, nothing more than a fancy stereo. But instead it’s cheaper to bake more and more features into it instead of dedicated knobs and buttons. And it becomes a vector for subscriptions.

All of this is to say that no one asked for it, but it makes more business sense when you know that the screen is required for the backup camera.

Or at least standardized so that the module can be swapped out and use the existing buttons/screens.

I don't even know what this is

You can, buy a Ford GT350 or GT500. Both I believe offered radio deletes.

Unfortunately it can be attached to trim packages. If you want the package with seatbelts you have to take the touchscreen infotainment.

Gone are the days when you could exercise more granular control over car options.

Downvoted for popular opinion... you're talking to the fine folks on Lemmy here.