JJP has been adding wifi connectivity for code updates/etc for a while now. Rumor is stern is working on an online platform too

Because it wouldn't sell pinball machines or justify the cost/time it would require to implement. So far, everybody has done just fine without it. Doesn't mean it won't happen someday but doesn't seem to be a priority for anybody.

File it in with "Stern needs to update their menu" in the "Ideas everybody has but nobody can really present a solid case why it's worth the trouble" bin.

As far as "private competition" there's pages and pages of people arguing about this...in the end there's a small group of people who think it would be the bee's knees and a larger group of people who believe it would be a pointless novelty.

Here's a fairly recent thread with all the standard arguments...

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/when-will-stern-pinball-machines-be-online

Internet capability could mean hackers could get into the game software and change things or have it display inappropriate messages. A route operator could be severely impacted if a hacker got in and set the machine to free play.

The Multimorphic P3 is internet connected and you can play online against other owners.
https://www.multimorphic.com/

I live in the sticks and internet connection at home sucks to say the least.
Downloading something like a chroma file for a color DMD is fine, but a larger downloads like code updates are basically impossible. For that I basically take a usb drive to work and download it at the office.
If a newer pinball machine was only able to be updated by direct download via WiFi I would not buy that machine.
It would be fine if you could do it via WiFi or usb, but it it was only WiFi I would not want it.

Some can blackmail them MR operator if you don't pay me $$$ I will burnout your node boards.