500+ people to even do the HIGH level bits of running a SC network isn't a lot.

Everyone (even the most strident Tesla haters) agrees that SC is the one thing Tesla does the best, hands down. I own a model Y and tried to use only non-Tesla charging on a long distance trip a few months ago, it was a disaster.

Telsa's charging network is a win on EVERY front:

1. Locations 2. Quantity of locations 3. Quality (high charging rates) 4. User experience / design of hardware - software 5. Realtime reporting and navigation 6. Uptime of network

The SC network is why a lot people consider Tesla who otherwise it would be a big fat no.