A joke? Not really. This update added capabilities the scope did not offer at all previously, regardless of which options were enabled, including four times faster waveform update rate, extra math functions, and additional triggers. You would have had to buy a 3000 series scope to get these features before 2018. The upgrade price seemed reasonable to me, so I bought it.
I agree with you..
That's, what, 250 USD to actually make 2000 series worth the damn..
If I had 2000 series I would gladly give that to at least have basic trigger options cheap Rigols and Siglents have..
Even Rigol DS1054Z has more advanced triggers that basic 2000.
To OP.
If you just bought new one than you should have received that upgrade for free. If it is an older one, than I do suggest to consider buying it, if you can afford it. It will considerably upgrade scope you have, most notable 10 times the memory (Keysight have smallest memories in class, and even an upgraded 1MPoints is not much but is still huge improvement), segmented memory (again very useful to capture many different events) much higher trigger refresh rate so you actually have some benefit of that famous Keysight chipset.. Off course, you can go the other way and "liberate it". But honestly for that price, I would buy it to keep resale value..
Or you can sell that scope and buy some of the newer generations of scopes that are much more advanced, for that money...