The last firmware update I needed for my Panasonic BD-30 dates from 16 months ago. It is my main Blu-ray player (I use the PS3 only when I need two disks at a time for a TV series + a movie).
The BD-30 has never had any hiccups with any disk while I had to upload a new firmware to run a disk already played on the BD-30 about 6 times for it to run a second time on the PS-3.
There is more than just the Blu-ray industry. As with any protocol (the hiccups of Wi-Fi in the past few years is a great example), specifications are typically only partially implemented (for time-to-market reasons) until it is actually needed. Even Sony have to meet dealines and have to cut corners even if they are the main patrons of the protocol.
Oppo is likely to have taken more shortcuts in the short run as they are smaller, so I have no doubt it is experiencing more problems right now, but Panasonic is a good example that Sony did too as they run new Blu-ray disks without hurdles.
