My day job is heavy in systems and network administration. Firmware updates come nearly weekly for various devices I manage. There are a few rules to firmware updates.
1. Do you currently, right this minute, have a problem with your hardware? If no, don't touch it.
2. If yes, then does the posted firmware state that it addresses said problem? If no, don't touch it.
3. If yes, then does every other single piece of the firmware update potentially introduce new problems?
4. Perform the risk/benefit analysis, there are hours/days to plan and prepare for said new problems or bricked hardware, the ability to rollback if needed, and schedule time to thoroughly test the hardware afterward.
I could go on, but typically firmware updates aren't something you want to really wake up to every morning and rushing to the forums to see if one exists. Human analogy, it's a brain transplant to your existing skeleton, nervous and muscle structure. You want to limit those to very controlled situations, and extremely hardened testing. It. Takes. Time.
There are so many variables here with Uniden the company, the SDS product, the absolute TREAT of access that Paul allowed of himself, etc. With his unfortunate circumstances, I'm sure him and the company were putting together the post-Paul-plan. A healthy company would not put so much into one man. Paul is certainly big shoes to fill, but there are certainly other people involved, albeit a little slower probably post-Paul and during Covid etc. Just take a deep breath, enjoy your existing hardware, and in time some fun new things might pop up. Otherwise all I see here is a bunch of hobbyists, radio geeks (and aren't we a lovely bunch) that seem to over-worry or have so much insight into these commercial companies.
At least this isn't the "other" company that flopped on LSM reception hardware and then their equivalent representative left the company a few months ago.
Don't tell me scanning is dead. I'm outside at my new house raising a new mast, terminating some LDF-4 by hand, in 109 degree NorCal heat with sunscreen, hat, water and beer, to get my live fire scanner back online ASAP. If I followed everyone's worries here and the "other" company, I'd rip all my radios out, give up, and stay inside with the HVAC and listen to someone else's live scanner. Seriously people, OPTIMISM.