Yeah, the exposure thing might be able to be upgraded through a firmware, but it might also introduce more noise to an unacceptable level in the manufacturers eyes. There are more things then sensors and lens in a digicam. There is also a processor that includes noise reduction and other control/speed features. (for example the Digic and DigicII processor in the canon S and SD models) The noise reduction processor may have improved significantly that they can incease the time to 60 acceptably. The blackout during shooting is related to the processor in the camera. If its not fast/powerful enough it cant update the screen and shoot at the same time. I dont see why if the LCD could go brighter they wouldnt let you, it is a limit of the hardware, or of the fact they want the camera to get a certain battery life.
They also just might want you to buy a new camera.