I think it's important to stress, while updates are intended to fix bugs and increase functionality, that is not always the case. It is not an uncommon for regressions to be introduced by an update that breaks existing functionality. This is why the application of updates should be scheduled for off hours in order to prevent an outage during business hours if a regression does occur.  This is also why mandatory updates that block quickbooks usage ( like the one that started this thread) are inherently problematic. Updates should be made mandatory.

Intuit should communicate the need to apply a patch and let their community of users choose when to install it. We (my clients) have yet to receive a communication from Intuit on an upcoming update, mandatory or not. Our users find out an update is available when they launch QB. And if it's a mandatory update, as this one was, they are dead in the water. Sure, the auto-update checker can be disabled, but that still doesn't negate Intuit's for better communications and change management for their users.