[abainbridge]

> If the pi is designed to throttle at a temperature where its lifespan is reduced from 50 to 49 years, then it is throttling at a gratuitously low temperature that affects quite a few use cases.

That's another claim that needs evidence. It seems possible to me that the thermal throttling is designed to prevent logic errors.

[kingosticks]

It's way, way more likely this is the reason than anything to do with lifespan.