I agree with your observations, and was focusing on longevity and reliability of the engine itself.

Unlike most folks, I buy a car outright and hold onto it a long time. I maintain it religiously. I drove my previous car -- a Toyota -- for 19 years. While I certainly don't intend to repeat that again, my 2001 BMW 330i still looks and drives great, and post-warranty repairs and maintenance have all been reasonable so far (knock on wood), so I am keeping it for awhile (I thought the new 5 series would tempt me, but I just don't like the styling).

But I agree with your point about the electronics and gagets. That is the limiting factor. On my Toyota, the car still ran great, it was the wear and tear on the interior that wasn't worth fixing.