Switching the ecosystem over this is on the cards (I am being essentially handed a different machine than what I dropped off, after all), but wondering if anyone had success forcing Apple to hand you a repaired machine with the same OS, or successfully manually downgraded an MBP that came with Sequoia but got Tahoe post-repair.
Tahoe is buggier than Sequoia, but Sequoia was rather buggy already. You'll see a lot of new annoyances in Tahoe, but then it will just feel like typically modern Apple software, just with more and more iPhone UI everywhere.
The one outstanding benefit is that it will now autocomplete codes sent via text messages, just like iOS.
This is not a new Tahoe feature. macOS has done this as long as the iPhone has.
As for OP, the time and mental energy spent fighting it would probably be better spent getting familiar with the OS. It’s not that different, other than the coat of paint. It may not be on your schedule, but neither would the fight. Not picking the computer up is also more impactful to your productivity than an OS upgrade.
While not with Apple, I just spent the last 6 months trying to fight charges from FedEx I felt were in error. I wish now that I would have just paid the money, taken my lumps, and moved on with my life. The stress it caused wasn’t worth it and it’s still not resolved.
Honestly, though, after seeing the next Tahoe-only generation of Apple Silicon come out a couple of months after I bought my laptop, I was so happy thinking I get to keep Sequoia for another year.
Like the sibling comment, I believe I had this happen in Sequoia, too.
That said, input appreciated.