I am sorry you see it as "inane Apple bashing".
I have not said at any time that Apple are compelling me to perform a software UPDATE.
I have said that they appear to be compelling me to perform a software DOWNLOAD which, if it comes in the last few days of any given month has the potential to cost me £400 (or at the beginning of a month to use up 80% of my monthly allowance). I am not making this up. In the Falklands there is only one internet provider. The internet all comes in by satellite and is very expensive. £100/month for 5 Gb. Over-use of your package limits cost 10p per Mb/£100 per Gb. iOS updates can be 1Gb per device, 2 phones/2ipads in our household, £400.
I am not trying to bash Apple, I am trying to find out if it is true that there is no way round this problem other than to change system, as Apple seem unable to come up with a solution - they just say "that's how it is, like it or lump it".
Does it seem reasonable to you that they should force Downloads, or have I got it wrong and do you know how to stop them.