The base RWD available on their website is a Standard Range+ (SR+) that includes basic autopilot for $40k. The additional $7k is for full self-driving (FSD), which most people don't get much added benefit (besides Navigate-on-AP, parking assist, and summon) quite yet since the full FSD functionality is still pending release.

You can still order the off-menu Standard Range (SR) over the phone for $36.2k (up slightly from the original $35k), but that does not include even basic autopilot or traffic-aware cruise control. Although federal rebate for Teslas have been phased out, you can still get state rebates (depending on which state you live in) to bring that price down, possibly to $33k or lower.

I do agree that the article is wrong to say that the base price starts at $33k. Tesla has never claimed the Model 3 had a starting price lower than $35k.

Each update must be acknowledged and scheduled for installation by the user, although theoretically there might be a backdoor way for them to remotely install updates without user consent. If you ever go a Tesla Service Center you'll need to remember to tell them not to install software updates for you (since they will commonly do that as a courtesy).

However, there will also be a point where features in the older software versions may no longer be supported and capabilities may degrade, particularly if Tesla's server-side communications specific to those older versions are discontinued, particularly around the navigation features. The Tesla Service Center may also say that they are logistically unable to fix or support some issues without upgrading to a current version.

Although commercial planes do fly on autopilot for most of the flight once they are in cruise, you still need the pilots that are fully capable of controlling the plane and landing it when the autopilot suddenly drops offline because the pitot tubes freeze, wings ice over, a gyro fails, or an engine catches on fire. The routine flights can indeed be handled by most any low-time pilot, but the unusual circumstances are where you need pilots with sufficient experience.

There is already a "Dev's Choice" and "Hall of Fame" category for missions that have been officially played by staff. Those missions receive special recognition and will reward players with standard item drops, rather than tickets.

Now you could go slightly further by changing things so that missions have not been approved do not receive tickets or experience at all. This has been discussed in their forums and many vocal users indicated that would not have any motivation to create or play (legitimate non-farm) architect missions if that were the case.