You really think those hardware initiatives require effort from the same people that are working on Autopilot? I'm sure they require some minor software changes but most of it is minor UI changes to reflect new models and maybe some software around the smart fuse for Ludicrous mode. Though I'm skeptical that the same people working on Autopilot would be working on any of that.
You should also be aware that you can't make software projects go faster by just throwing more people at them. So if the project already has enough man power then there's no reason that other projects can't continue, even if they needed more software updates than you mentioned.
I wasn't really referring to anyone in particular's opinion here. I was just saying that objectively we do not have sufficient information to definitively say, "Tesla is doing their best to get autopilot done and to customers." If I missed something that proves that, by all means please share. Nearly 10 months after the initial announcement I'm pretty certain someone somewhere was not doing their best. That's really the only evidence we have to go on besides a grand total of maybe 6 sentences from Elon on the subject (only two of which were unsolicited) over the past ~300 days.
I don't see anything I mentioned as solely a "hardware initiative," either.
We also have very limited information on the structure of Tesla's development team. While in general some of what you say makes sense, we don't know if that's how Tesla is operating. It could very well be the same person who makes the Ludicrous/Sport slider UI that is designing the interface for Autopilot, or integrating communication with the autopilot hardware, or test driving autopilot on vehicles. We don't know. What's logical and makes sense on the surface may not very well be what is going on behind the scenes. Are they organized in a logical sense? Probably. Do we know for sure? Nope.
I'm not sure what you're referring to with the last bit, "even if they needed more software updates than you mentioned," because I didn't refer to any software updates... (aside from the implied autopilot lane keeping update, the topic of the thread).
Yes Tesla could do a better job communicating the availability. We've gone over that many many times. But you've said you wanted updates. You've gotten updates. Elon now says they're working on the last edge case.
If you really feel the way you're saying you feel in this post then I'd imagine you've sold your position in Tesla. Can't imagine you'd keep your position in a company that you don't trust and who you don't believe the employees are doing their best.
(Investor Hat on) My stake in TSLA has definitely been pondered lately. However, personally, from an investor standpoint, I don't care too much of the details of what the company says to customers or does internally as long as the numbers work out so that I'm poised to still make a profit. I didn't invest in TSLA because I thought they were the best at everything internally nor because I trusted them in any way to actually deliver on promises. I invested in TSLA because based on all info available at the time it was positioned to go up in value significantly, which it has and still is, and my wallet is happier for it. That's not to say in the near future I decide that their operating methods are too risky for a continued long position (deceptive marketing, failing to deliver on time, etc). Honestly, that's pretty likely given the current state of affairs and my personal experiences. However, they still have some time to turn this around. So far, regarding the matters I've mentioned here and elsewhere, they're keeping investors happier (or perhaps just more in the dark) than customers it seems.
(Tesla ball cap on)
As for the updates, yes we've finally gotten something unsolicited from Tesla (actually, not even Tesla the company but from the CEO on an unofficial channel) regarding the status of autopilot. Better than nothing I suppose. But, given that at least one of the last solicited updates turned out to be BS by Elon's own words (Early June: Beta around the end of the month; Mid July: Beta in a few weeks....) I'm not putting much stake in these unofficial one liners either. They should have been giving paying customers updates from day 1. The first unsolicited update on this unofficial channel has come nearly 10 months after the initial announcement. That's pretty ridiculous. Still nothing official, and Tesla's website still talks about autopilot and lane keeping and self parking and everything they talked about last October, software that essentially doesn't exist, as if it's ready and available today. That's doubly ridiculous.