I don't think you understand - yes it will.
You have your answer from some of the replies above. Many people have consciously chosen not to update and they are flying just fine (even though the app reports updates are required).
You do not even need a tablet connected or have the DJI Go app running and the Inspire will fly perfectly fine. It's designed that way.
I'm afraid after you have spoken to DJI you will be no more informed than you are now - none of the switchboard operators are techs. None of them have stripped down an Inspire or have flown them almost daily commercially as many on this forum have, myself included. Some of the DJI guys won't even own an Inspire, they are simply working off a script.
Maybe you are getting confused between app updates and firmware updates. If you have automatic updates enabled and your tablet updates the Go app without your knowledge it can report that you must update your firmware as it will not be compatible.
This I'm afraid shows a lack of understanding of the platform and the interplay between the app and the firmware.
Additionally, you could have prevented your crash by switching to P-Atti and thus stopping the badly calibrated compass giving conflicting data for your declination to the GPS in reporting where North is. All of this information can be gleaned from the many informed posts across this forum.
There are very few problems that we have not come across previously and not been able to solve or offer advice on.
You would do well to take some time reading through some posts in this community to familiarise yourself with many tips and advice users have picked up along the way of flying many hundreds of hours of a single platform.
Spent over an hour on the phone with DJI. It turns out you actually are wrong. I let them know you stated you are a beta tester for them and you have full access to their R&D and their reply, and I'm paraphrasing in order not to implicate, is that is a bunch of bunk. That what you say may mean you may be part of their development program, and so are many such pros and dealers who try out upgrades, new models and updates... resulting in a new machine if you crash them, but this surely in no way makes you an expert.
Let me state here up front, I don't claim to be an expert as a UAV pilot. My professionalism in film, television and videography expands more than 25 years. I have been an RC hobby enthusiast for more than 12 years and was successful in convincing a multi-million dollar power company into utilizing the Inspire 1 to inspect lines, terminals, towers and various objects in their trade for damages, percent life and other anomalies. As a professional in the entertainment trade, as well as the energy business I keep up on every aspect of the tools available to us, their products and their upgrades, as best as possible. Do I build these things from the ground up? Nope. Don't have the time. Do I know how a speed controller works, the flight control computer, the RC, the powered gimbal system? I read as much as I can on the matter and practice a lot. The idea in my company buying this aircraft is that I don't have to dive into it on the workbench. The features attract me because there are a lot of safeguards in place, smooth handling and controllability. Therefore, I don't ever fly without the tablet or the iPhone for general operations, updates and navigational procedures. As I grow in my experience I will spend more time in ATTI mode (because it flies like butter), test my abilities in tighter and more strict situations manually and provide services in manual mode when called for and only after many hours of practice.
So, when I say it doesn't fly, based on this workflow: Tablet 'On' > RC 'On' > Aircraft 'On' ... my statement is correct. At best it may fly for a few feet, then it will ground itself with a "Firmware Update Needed" message. This was my case for me on Saturday, December 12th which followed DJI's 12/7 release. This fact that it will not fly is a direct statement from DJI techs. And as far as your not so humble editor stating that none of the switchboard operators are techs, is simply not true. I live next door to one of those operators. He has been with DJI for 2 years, he builds his own airframes and owns his own Inspire. Today's TECH SUPPORT clarified he is an experienced, so he was very clear about the situation regarding grounded Inspires because of firmware mismatches.
If you've read this far and your ganglion is starting to twitch, hold on a sec.
You may not be experiencing my problem. Here are likely reasons why:
1. You have not upgraded past Firmware version 1.3 (not cloud driven firmware)
2. You are not using the Go app
3. You don't live in America
4. You own an older version of the Inspire 1 (version A, B, maybe C)
If you are in the Go app, which now implements version 1.4 firmware and beyond (they are up to version 1.6 now), firmware updates are driven through the Go app and in
my experience are mandatory per numeric version jumps. IE: 1.4.0.10, to 1.5.0.30 is mandatory.
If there were a new firmware of 1.5.0.40, it would not be mandatory. However, the latest of 1.6.0.40
is mandatory up from 1.5.0.30.
Regarding living/operating in America, that may be where all the fuss is about. FAA is laying down a boatload of restrictions because our country is currently somewhat unregulated in it's UAV laws. DJI has been writing a lot of fly zone restrictions for Major Airports, Military Bases and Federal Parks. Enthusiasts are abusing these areas, grounding forrest fire and rescue planes. At least, that's the case FAA is making and from what I understand DJI is trying to keep up with FAA law.
When I stated my situation from the beginning as a caused crash via Firmware Upgrade, DJI has output several firmware upgrades recently. The car park I flew in, I've flown before several times. I've never experience uncontrollable flight like this before.
There is also this very simple fact: the version of Inspire that you own
may not require firmware updates. All version D Inspires require updates... no matter what. My Inspire 1 is a version D.
Did I make a mistake in this whole scenario. Yes, I did. I should have read the version 1.4.0.10 notes and realized you can no longer upgrade in the field without a wifi connection. Also, the morning of my practice flight that resulted in a crash, I should have also turned on my aircraft while I was in the shop with a wifi connection. I would have seen the upgrade was required and pushed it through. In my lessons learned, that has become incorporated in my new workflow.
To DJI's credit, they're turning around my repair pretty quickly. Within 6 days, including a Christmas Holiday, they have already quoted my repair bill for the snapped gimbal, it's parts and labor for a nominal price of $122.