> Calling it level 3 is a marketing gimmick that you fell for.
It's called Level 3 because it is level 3. Mercedes went through an approval process and carries insurance (or a bond iirc, there's a couple options) to comply with California law dictating the use of L3 features. You are legally allowed to stop paying attention under certain conditions and the restrictions to roads or situations is in no way disqualifying, nor is geobounding to only states you are legally allowed to operate in. Also, its available across all of Germany.
The way its actually a marketing gimmick is how few Mercedes has actually made available and the exorbitant cost. They've been allowed to sell in California since June of last year and only have 65 available and 1 sold as of April:
https://fortune.com/2024/04/18/mercedes-self-driving-autonom...
