I am an off roader, and you're 100% correct. It comes in very handy on the trails.
I'm a fist time Subaru owner and find some of the Ascent's features and options baffling. I have long understood Subaru to be an engineering-centric manufacturer so I can only guess that the final configurations we get to live with are made in committees.
Folding mirrors:
Marketing: all the other 3 row SUVs have automatic folding mirrors.
Engineers: ok. We can do that.
Off-road team: they need to have a button for manual folding in case there are narrow tree-lined trails.
Engineers: ok. We can do that
Towing team: no they can't fold automatically because the owners are going to install extension mirrors and they'll damage the body if they fold before being removed.
Engineers: ok. They won't fold.
Marketing: but all the other 3 row SUVs have automatic folding mirrors!
Engineers: ok. We'll design them to fold and install the actuators to make them fold and write the software to make sure they only work when the engine is running and install a button to fold and unfold them.
Marketing: we'll write "power folding mirrors" in the brochure. No one will notice they're not Automatic until after they own the car.
Owners: I forgot I have folding mirrors and that shopping cart just broke off my mirror.
Front camera:
Marketing: all the other 3 row SUVs have 360° view on the infotainment screen
Engineers: we already have a rear camera, we just need to add a front camera, write some software and we'll have that too
Human interface team: 360° view is confusing and people with it are still running into obstacles when they park.
Marketing: all the other 3 row SUVs have 360° view on the infotainment screen
Engineering: we can add a camera to the grill but we won't write the software to create the 360° view
Human interface team: but you can't put the front camera image on the infotainment screen because people will get confused with the rear view camera and won't know if they're going forward or backward
Engineering: ok. We can add another screen at the top of the dashboard to show the front camera image
Safety team: they can't use the front camera while going forward because it will be a distraction
Engineering: ok. It will only turn on for 9 seconds when shifting from reverse to drive
Off-road team: but the front camera can help on trails
Engineering: ok. We'll put a button to turn it on but it will shut off if they go too fast
Towing team: wait a minute. Other tow vehicles use cameras to synthesize a rear view which make the trailer invisible
Engineering: ok we can put another camera high on the rear gate that might see ever some boats or popup.
Safety team: but you can't put that image on the infotainment screen or the front view screen because it will be confusing.
Engineering: ok. We'll add a screen to the rear view mirror.
Marketing: we can write that there's a rear view towing camera in the brochure.
Owner while backing up with trailer: I wish the Ascent had some sort of towing camera (no recollection that there's a lever to switch from mirror to camera.
i can go on... LED taillights, passenger lumbar adjustment,... anyone?