Apple Releases New 13.4 Software for HomePod

Who has updated successfully? I don’t trust updates on things that can’t be restored from Apple anymore. They clearly haven’t a clue how to perform development given last October’s mishap and bricking.

Me
No issues

Will there be a Homepod 2? Or is this going to be relegated to the small list of Apple's unsuccessful product launches over the past 20+ years?

Let's hope for an Homepod 2
But to be honest the only problem is Siri

I wouldn't put it like that. The problem is not EXACTLY Siri, the problem is that the HomePod team don't understand what they are doing.
They seem to think that their job is to reproduce an Amazon Echo. But that's NOT their job; their job is to create the high-end audio part of the Apple Personal Compute Cluster.
This means PERFECT integration with the rest of your Apple devices, not half-assed random integration.

For example, EVERY Siri request I could make to my watch or my iPhone should work on a HomePod. No stupid nonsense of "I can't do that". If the request requires location, use my phone for location. If the request requires a screen, throw the output up on an appropriate screen (generally the apple TV screen, but if that's not available, maybe a mac screen, maybe an iPhone screen).

For example why is the Apple Watch integration so lame? Why is it kinda random whether I can or can't control HomePod volume from my Apple Watch depending on precise details of exactly where the speaker audio is coming from?

Even the aTV integration is subpar. The technically hard part is magnificent, and done well. But the UI for setting it up is a complete disaster. And when I control volume for my aTV the ENTIRE volume should change, both my TV volume and Homepod volume, not just the TV volume.

Think of yourself as part of Apple, not as "just a speaker"!!!

Seriously where the hell is HomePod Mini? I don’t even care about sound quality. I literally just want a ‘Hey Siri’ device in two rooms. I’ll even settle for HomePod Shuffle with no speakers.

It might happen, I suppose, but honestly I think Apple considers iPhone and Apple Watch to be your "no-speakers-hey-siri' devices.

Who has updated successfully? I don’t trust updates on things that can’t be restored from Apple anymore. They clearly haven’t a clue how to perform development given last October’s mishap and bricking.

Mine update successfully. YMMV.

Update to 13.4 just completed successfully here...

ha. Not gonna get me this time, Apple