Comment The solution (Score 1) 324
should be that firmware is firmware. Please test rudimentary blocks of computing devices before you produce 100 of millions of a series.
I expect the manufacturer actually does something like a read/write test for typical conditions.
I may even accept or wish to get HDs which are one year behind SOTA, if they were not pushed out of the door in whatever shape the SW is due to a marketing deadline.
For such device i happily would pay more, if the "programmable" fuses are set/burnt.