In what other sphere of life would we accept this!

Well it would be some radio with 8 valves. No, just variable valve timing on inlet and exhaust for the engine, with the DAB radio also having the media player (Sd Card or DVD), the television, the satnav, the rear view camera, the telephone and all with voice control for those too lazy to press buttons. No valves in sight, but several microprocessors containing many thousands of transistors each.