Not you, but JD controls the kill-switch.
They can disable a device to render it useless whenever something happens that they don't like.
Whether it's theft or violation of your leasing terms.
If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefinitely.
Apple has a similar feature for its devices that is in control of the user, but ultimately it's still depends on the device connecting to the internet and getting a ping that it's "lost" from Apple's servers. There's not really anything stopping Apple from locking people's devices, either.
I just feel like "self hosting" isn't a real company solution to a kill switch, so I'm not sure how you have a kill switch without interacting with the company in any way, even if you're not John Deere.
Trivial for who? Someone on HN or everyone else?
Edit: wording
- Requires connection to phone, nfc, other radio signal...
- and/or other deadman switch ideas...
You can’t have any (online) interaction with the company. Even OTA updates can’t be trusted if the company wants to act against your interests or the interests of your country.
Individual farmers need 100% control and I would argue that the only way to accomplish that is to require physical access for all updates and no kill switch at all.
Tractors aren’t close to cell phones. No one is naively and unknowingly buying a stolen tractor off of Craigslist. Engraving serial numbers on parts is a viable theft deterrent if everyone in the industry refuses to buy stolen parts.