[jayd16]

LIDAR can't read traffic signs or stop lights. At best its a very nice addition to the depth sensing but the bulk of the work will still have to be sensing in the visible spectrum, categorizing the sensor data, and making decisions.

If it turns out Tesla can drop in a cheap LIDAR system down then the line then aren't they the ones that made the right choice?

[foxtr0t]

They'd certainly have a lot of very angry customers who were promised this was unnecessary and other OEMs would drop LiDAR. If it turns out that more accurate depth perception is necessary for L3 AVs, every Tesla owner with "FSD" wasted 6-10k, unless Tesla voluntarily retrofits these vehicles, which would likely kill their profit for half a decade. Recalls are always much more expensive than getting it right first.

[jayd16]

Why for half a decade? I mean they only need to offer it to those who already paid, which isn't too much. It seems like a pretty safe marketing gimmick for Tesla even if some retrofits need to be doled out.