You do realize that the ifixit solderimg iron also has firmware and that you need to connect it to a computer or their very expensive battery pack to adjust its settings, right?
I'm pretty sure you meant this as a joke, and I laughed at the thought of someone making something as stupid as an app for a soldering iron. But then I thought I'd check. Ugh.
Owner of 2 pinecils here, there are buttons and a display that shows the current temperature and other stuff. I only just learned that there's an app, it works more than fine on its own, out of the box.
I got that specific iron because I needed to power it from 12v, and it works very well on the USB PD power supply I already have for my laptop.
having to do a firmware update on my soldering iron
You don't. It works perfectly fine OOTB. Can't speak for the Pinecil v2 with Bluetooth and the companion app but I have v1 and the software been stable and bug-free enough I've never even given a thought to updating the firmware on it
Firmware was always there in a soldering iron more sophisticated than an old, dumb Radio Shack wall plug iron. That's how you get good temperature control. Pinecil is just letting you modify it officially.