For me it's like buying a base laptop. For my personal one, I'll always max the SSD and memory.
(I do like the feature where the car slows/stops when it encounters an obstacle directly ahead. As far as I know it shouldn't require machine-learning/privacy invasion, but it is harder and harder to get one without the other.)
Not sure about the privacy invasion part? I believe a lot of cars with AEB don’t have cellular connections so how could they invade privacy? I’m thinking of stuff like Honda Sensing or Subaru EyeSight here, or whatever Toyota puts on the Prius.
In electric cars such as Tesla, all this has been accelerated. In a recent thread, folks told stories of buying a used car, and receiving the PII and driving history of the previous owner.
It is also used against you, but never for you in regards to law-enforcement. Good reason to be skeptical.
Then you may want to check out the Nissan Leaf instead. Also Ford and Chevy have options. But bells and whistles is kinda Tesla's thing.