Quote Originally Posted by AQuattro View Post
The increased risk of theft is obvious. There are a lot of people who would have no problem legally buying hardware and having it reverse engineered. There are fewer people who would break into an APR dealer and steal the hardware to accomplish the same thing. It's called deterrence.
Sometimes a company has to grow out of their antiquated ways. There are plenty of other tuning companies out there who used products like everyone wants out here and they're still in business. Sooner or later APR and GIAC will need to come off their high horses with the business model they've built. I hate to say it, but if they're not going to change things, I hope Audi locks that damn ECU so tight a frog would be envious... I say this out of spite obviously because we are all losing out of something that could make them more money and help us be safer with work being done at a dealer and safer in knowing that we're in control of the flashing situation should an emergency arise with our cars. What happens if you're on vacation and something happens to your car and you have to take it to an Audi dealer around wherever you may be... chances are great APR or GIAC won't have a dealer around that area. In fact, I'd wager to bet big money that could happen to someone and they'd be fucked. Either these companies need to change their technology or they need to step up the game and provide a 3rd party warranty program for everyone. I think we pay enough for their products that maybe they should do that instead of building new warehouses and shops! Something's gotta give and I'm glad the community is finally slowly starting to take the blinders off. Sooner or later more and more people will see the value of a change like this.