Hi Roy

"I find it difficult to believe that techs can't see where this could be going"

I think you will find some techs already realise this and others either are burying their heads in the sand or are not really doing in depth diagnostics enough to know whats coming.

If you read posts in diagnostic forum all will be revealed. As for 2nd hand bits some of the units are reprogrameable or just need reconfiguring but of course you will need tool to do it.

I am not sure its deliberate on makers behalf its certainly cheaper for them to build cars like this as one unit can be built to fit lots of models and just program it at the end of production.

john