CarPlay and Android Auto actually work well, and you can use the apps that you already have on your phone. The screens are generally more convenient and restrict view less than a phone holder stuck to the window. But without those, I agree that I'd rather have no screen than one with crappy media controls and the car's own navigation.

I can control Waze and Apple Music/Podcasts from my steering wheel, or the rotary knob. Or the touchpad if I was a weirdo. It's amazing.

Yes, you could achieve the same for music/podcasts via bluetooth, but you couldn't switch between which app is playing, and you didn't get Waze/Maps/Whatever GPS app you prefer, they're all better than the built in shit on most cars.

I suppose you could also get by with a paper map for your road trips and stuff, but personally I'm too lazy for that. It's fun, don't get me wrong, but I don't want to stop my car to figure out where I'm going.

I gotta have it. Although my car is designed properly with knobs and buttons for ac, seat heat, and radio controls. Was a major factor when deciding what I bought. I absolutely love how seamless CarPlay works with my music and GPS. Nice not to have to have a phone mount on my dash.

This is the correct answer. Give me more buttons and knobs and switches