2pods declared themselves out, whether you would have or not is entirely up to you. But your argument is bogus. Footswitches are generally optional, not supplied with amps and are creature comforts. I'd listen to pleas based upon scenarios such as replacing a broken footswitch that's already there, the rare situation where the footswitch is missing and is required for operation AND it's their only amp or something, but otherwise, what's the problem with waiting until 2025? That's the whole effing point!
As for the bridge example, that's a really roundabout way of telling us you've bought a bridge...
This "completion of projects" loophole does not exist. Buying bits for projects is still buying gear. When I say "bits" - no-one's going to declare you out for buying some pickguard screws, but a bridge is a substantial, bass specific part and is deffo gear IMO.