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iFixit Confirms You Can Still Repair Your Own iMac Pro Or MacBook Pro -- At Least For Now (engadget.com)
After it was reported that proprietary diagnostic software was needed in order to replace key parts on computers equipped with Apple's T2 chip, iFixit decided to put that claim to the test by replacing a part on a brand-new 2018 MacBook Pro. They found that after pulling it apart and replacing the display, it still worked -- even without the software. Engadget reports: As they put it, any "secret repair kill switch hasn't been activated -- yet." So far, it has limited approaches that limit repairs based on security to the TouchID and FaceID sensors that require specialized software, as I noted yesterday, even though people have reported trouble with the ambient light sensor after replacing iPhone displays. While it's possible that a future software update could change things and make it require specialized software that only official Apple Stores and authorized service centers have access to, we're not there yet. Passing "right to repair" laws currently under consideration could be a big step to guaranteeing things stay that way.
As you correctly stated, they can't void the warranty regarding unrelated problems because a customer used unauthorized parts. In other words, if you put in a knock-off keyboard, then later have a problem with the screen, they can't say the screen isn't warranteed because you replaced the keyboard.
Where do you see them trying to do that? The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is about warranties (hence the name). It doesn't say "manufacturers mist make it easy to repair products". It doesn't say "manufacturers must somehow make sure that knock off parts always work right". It only says that the warranty on part A can't be conditioned on using OEM part B.