Core count, clock speed, and cache quantity are related to yield. HyperThreading, VT-d, AVX, Turbo Boost, AES-NI, TSX, and ECC are all too integral to the core design; they're physically present on all chips and it is extremely unlikely for a manufacturing defect to affect one of those features without otherwise crippling the chip. Those features are used for product segmentation that is not driven by any real marginal cost.

> But even if they did, they don't have an obligation to be "responsible" in how they market their features.

Intel is a corporation; its shareholders are shielded from personal financial liability for its errors; thus is seems appropriate that it be required to be responsible in exchange for the privileges it has been granted.