Very rarely have they updated firmware on any readers. And the reason you got the firmware/hardware update on your 500 was because Sony decided to change their business model and switch to ePubs rather than LRX. If they sell you a few books for your 500 they will make back their investment to update your 500. Plus they were able to avoid any ugly class-action litigation and bad press. Sony did the right thing for 500 owners, but they won't be updating any discontinued models, especially when they rarely update current models.