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HDMI version updates may cause machines with older decoders to not work without an update. Its no biggie until you attach a streaming service dongle and it can't send its encrypted HDMI.

Which brings us back to Mr. Gabe Newell and his "Piracy is a service problem" quote, but we've already had that discussion on HN this week.

While I try to hold onto my electronics for awhile, I personally would have a new TV by the time that happened.

> At least in my 15 years of using flat panel TVs, I have never seen a need for a firmware update.

Never had any HDMI negotiation issues or CEC issues or OTA demuxer crashes, I guess? Or adaptive backlight dimming issues... Lots of software in TVs these days.

Times have changed. My TV (a 2018 Sony) needed a firmware update to support Dolby Vision. My receiver needed a firmware update to support eARC.