Do we get the new SW updates from 945?

Yeah, there's a reason the F5+ line has been $150 off since the 945 launched, essentially making the two watches close to the same price (if not cheaper).  While I don't want to be pessimistic and say we bought what is going to be a quickly replaced/orphan watch, it's certainly looking that way.  I've been annoyed with how slow Garmin has been rolling out firmware fixes for our watches, and I'm guessing combined with the price drop we're about as good as we're going to get with new features (I'd expect bug fixes for quite some time, obviously).  That said, I can't say I'm disappointed in the watch overall, but do wish I'd waited.  

Hmm I agree but they can always stop buying the outdated metric for f5+ and buy a new one instead?

Yeah, agree 100%

But that's true any time you buy technology of any sort. You get what fits your needs and in your price range that's available at the time you're ready to buy. If you're afraid to buy because you worry it will be outdated soon then you'll never buy anything.

I can't really agree that this makes the F5+ a quickly replaced or orphaned device. It was announced at CES in January of 2018 which was almost a year and a half ago and it's actual successor, a new Fenix model, hasn't been announced yet. The 945 has new features but isn't superseding the F5+ because it has a different intended user base.

If the F5+ or F5S+ that have were more comfortable to wear on my skinny wrists I'd still be sporting one of them instead and waiting for the next iteration of that watch before upgrading. But they're just not comfortable to me so I got the 945. I have the all the new bells and whistles but I also have a less attractive, IMO, watch.

I'm not sure who the "they" is in your comment. If you're talking about consumers, then yes they could buy the newer model with the newer features. That there would be more than one software load for the Fenix 5 Plus series makes no difference to them. But what about current users?

The suggested a la carte purchasing of Firstbeat features suggested above, which in theory I can get onboard with, would cause more problems than it would solve. I think that would require a wholesale change in the platform.

But when you start talking about it from a manufacturer POV it becomes a logistical, support, and licensing nightmare. There's no upside to this for them. Not even the supposed customer goodwill.

I'm talking about Garmin. They already pay license for vo2max metric on f5+, couldn't they stop paying for the current one and pay for the new one for that device, this is for your first reply. 

Customer good will goes a long way, just look at some game companies and when they try to implement microtransactions, backlash is intense, this obviously isn't the same as in this case, however you already have forum threads on the issue, so people are obviously asking about it.

There you have it, this puts this topic to bed.

Thanks for sharing Amazing.

You're that esaily pleased and convinced?? One answer from a support guy who we even don't know if know anything about this?! Some lines even not signed by a name? Lol. Posted by a nickname called The_Amazing_TMan? Jesus....