just don't subscribe to it and besides a lot of people don't need those extra features. we just need to go from one place to another, that's all. older generations or retired people would not want to pay since money will be limited.

You are incorrect to a large extent, unless you just enjoy trolling folks or didn't take time to do a 5 second Google search before posting.
Toyota '''Reviewing''' Key Fob Remote Start Subscription Plan After Massive Blowback

The 4Runner and other Toyota models suffering from this "subscription feature" are equipped with hardware based remote start via the key fob. Press lock 2 times within X seconds and then hold to start. Yes, they can also be started via phone app, but the vehicles implement traditional hardware based remote start functionality.

It looks like Toyota took the minimal effort development path to "encourage" subscription revenue by modifying the existing remote start hardware to ask the DCM if the vehicle has a active subscription before starting the vehicle.

So, you're technically correct in that the vehicle literature probably documented this somewhere as a subscription feature...but, these owners bought the remote start hardware when they bought the vehicle. It doesn't require a digital subscription to function any more than the power windows, heated seats, or engine starter itself.

At least, that's my take on the outrage.

Toyota's implementation of remote start is rather stupid, IMO, anyway. Yes, you can remote start the vehicle to cool/heat for 5 minutes...but, the second you touch the door handle to enter the vehicle, it shuts down the engine until you manually restart (brake pedal/start button). It's a first world problem for sure, but just seems the opposite of user friendly.

I am still on the fence if they did this on purpose or some engineer was just that ignorant/naïve to think that all customers would just pay for a subscription so it wouldn't be an issue.

My guess is that it's likely more on the latter than the former; Toyota started heavily integrating the DCM into their headunits when they came out with the SOS Safety Connect system and putting "connected" features into Entune as it was upgraded. Most everything headunit wise on newer Toyotas is heavily tied to the DCM functionality in some form or another (i.e. microphone input is fed in serial to the DCM which then outputs it to the Headunit for bluetooth calls/voice recognition/etc. features; if the DCM is acting up you may notice people can't hear you on calls). So I am going to guess whoever designed the Remote Start system integration never considered that people wouldn't keep their Safety Connect and Remote Connected Services subscriptions up to date and thus why bother programming a separate protocol for using the smart key to start the vehicle remotely? (I would have to probably dig real deep in the FSMs and other literature, but it would not shock me if when you use the Smart Key to remote start the car it still pings Toyota's servers to validate the remote start signal to your phone account before allowing the request to go to the ECM/Smart Key modules.)

As for the vehicle turning off when you open the door, it's just a security feature you can't (as far as I am aware of) turn off. They aren't the only manufacturer to do that, my father's QX80 does the same thing. It's just to make sure that someone couldn't run up to the vehicle in your driveway and hop in and drive off with it (I am guessing they are assuming you might be close enough to the vehicle that the smart entry would bypass automatic door locks?). It's an annoying feature, but I sort of see where they are coming from; I live in an area that I would probably never have to worry about that, but if I were still living in the Bay Area I would want it even if I was standing right outside of the vehicle.

Visited your article. The Remote Start Hardware that you say is actually installed in the vehicle turns out to actually NOT be remote start hardware (conventional remote start).

The hardware you are referring to is the vehicle's "data communication module." DCM implies there is overhead cost to Toyota beyond the actual cost of the hardware itself and the installing of it (this is assuming the hardware is going to be used). But thanks for inferring I am lazy or stupid or a troll or whatever just before linking an article that blew up in your face. I of course found no reason to read the rest of your post beyond the article you linked.

If you really want remote start, you can buy one yourself that does not require a network or cloud-based services.

By the way, I have no problem for people fighting to get free stuff. Do you. But it seems like you people fighting to get the Remote Start do not understand how this software/data based feature is working. At best, if consumers were to win this battle, Toyota would drop this network-based remote start from the service, maybe lower the subscription cost slightly, and then offer you conventional remote start as like an $800 option or whatever it was in the past. But keep in mind, the network-based remote start is better. More range and more ways to start the car.

In either case, aftermarket is going to be the most cost-effective.

https://www.google.com/search?q=toyo...hrome&ie=UTF-8

This applies to 2020 and up 4Runner where the remote start is no longer dealer installed, comes from factory.

Correct. Just like Auto headlights, Auto Dual Zone Climate Control, the Remote Start/Remote Connect are reserved for the Limited and Pro 4Runner trim levels only. There is a module buried in the spaghetti of wires behind the cover below and to the left of the steering wheel that's connected to the ignition that allows the function, and all the lesser than thou, lowly SR5 and TRD OR/ORPs do not deserve such higher functionality in our vehicles, even if we wanted to shell out the money to Mother Toyota. Alas, Remote Start/Remote Connect were not meant for us.