The remaining knobs these days are mostly drive-by-wire, so to speak. Maybe the simulation of mechanical control is still better than touchscreen controls, but

The remaining knobs these days are mostly drive-by-wire, so to speak. Maybe the simulation of mechanical control is still better than touchscreen controls, but they are not without problems. I still miss the ability, occasionally, to adjust the volume on the car stereo before I turn on the car. (I recall that I was blasting some music while alone, but now don't want to deafen a passenger, e.g.) On my year-old Honda, the volume knob doesn't start responding for about 15 seconds after I hit the ignition button. I know I'm romanticizing him, but the story of how Steve Jobs designed the click wheel on the original iPod is how I wish every product was designed: insistence on zero lag and immediate feedback. The above volume knob also has a lag in it's use: turn too quickly and you'll get unreliable or delayed results. I hate that every time I use the knob, I'm kind of second guessing whether it's working. The stereo was seemingly designed with the steering wheel volume buttons as the primary controls.