To give this article the benefit of a doubt - the outrage began on Reddit. And it could have been caused by wording from MSI themselves. The MSI post states "MPG-Exclusive features - Firmware update through USB-B". It was dumb to word it like that. This is not a feature - this is capability that usually requires a separate port (USB or serial). This port usually provides an option to use a calibrator and other functions. But nevertheless - this "feature" is usually reserved for professional monitors. And I am guessing it requires a different logic board (unless they just need to solder on a usb port and use different firmware - this might be likely).
But there is a point in wanting firmware updates. Nowadays monitors are quite more complex than say 10 years ago. Some indeed have bugs that likely could be solved with firmware updates.

Correct or remove this article or I'll be blocking all future news from Notebook Check and recommending everyone I know do the same.

You need to vet your contributors better - this is either blatant click farming and knowingly deceptive (in which case these are the last few fractions of a cent you'll ever get from me) or it should have been caught on review and reflects the poor quality of research here.

Author using controversial wording to make people read his article. This is not what a paywall is.

You can't pay for it. Paywal doesn't mean buying a different product. You can't pay for the update.

Also, many lower-end monitors don't even integrate methods to update firmware. It's possibly they didn't even integrate the circuitry to allow for it.  Just because it uses a panel that is the same doesn't mean the circuits are built to do it.  At least there up front about it rather than just not doing it and being silent about it.

are you sure you understand what a paywall is