I put up with Canon's locked mount BS because I am a mature adult. I understand that Canon believes that it will be negatively impacted if it allows 3rd party AF lenses to be made without a financial agreement with 3rd party lens makers. I understand they are a business trying to make the most profit they can.
Being a bootlicker does not make you a mature adult. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Sony elected to allow 3rd party lenses for exactly the same reason - they felt it was necessary to build their sales figures. Now, they are trying to limit the functionality of 3rd party lenses, apparently believing that they accomplished their original goal, and now see 3rd party lens makers as a negative.
From a photography standpoint, the limits on 3rd party glass have not changed.
For video, as Sony has added additional firmware features such a focus breathing compensation, they have not made those features available to 3rd party lenses. However some features such as gyro stabilization for video do work with 3rd party glass.
Ultimately I hope that Sony allowing 3rd party FF AF glass will force Canon into doing the same thing, but with fewer restrictions than Sony has. If that happens, Sony is more likely to ease restrictions as well.
The consumer wins when companies compete. The consumer loses when companies refuse to compete.
Personally, I have no issue with Canon, as i have no interest in 3rd party lenses. I understand that companies make decisions to try and maximize profits, so their is nothing to defend or not defend.
There's the bootlicking again. Companies should be regulated heavily and forced to provide choice to consumers. Open platforms should be the de facto standard across all industries. For example, it's wonderful to see Apple being forced to open their platform more. It's not enough, but it's a start. I hope with time that camera makers (all of them) are forced to provide open platforms as well.
Canon's sensor tech has been at the same level as Sony and all other sensor makers for the past 7 or 8 years or so.
This is demonstratively incorrect. Canon stuck another ancient FSI sensor into the R6III, and just cranked up the readout clocks. This resulted in a big enough drop in DR that they had to bake in NR at lower ISOs to compensate. Meanwhile Sony created an entirely new type of sensor that actually supports faster readout for the A7V, as well as dual gain readout and greatly improved DR. This sensor tech will move to the A7RVI and also into all of Sony's medium format sensors. It is a significant step forward from BSI which itself is a big step forward from FSI. Sony hasn't released a FF camera with an FSI sensor in over a decade.
Then we get to the GS sensor in the A9III, the first FF GS sensor with AF. That sensor did take a hit in DR and base ISO, but it is still an incredible achievement and step forward. Sync flash at any speed. 120fps with no sacrificies. And beyond that, stunning video performance that is almost as good as seen in $80k cine cameras. The CineD review was amazing.
Sony controls a huge percentage of the global sensor market, and as such spends a fortune on sensor R&D. Canon has little hope of keeping up and will probably eventually end up buying Sony sensors. Same as everyone else in the FF and MF world.