These filters are a major money maker at dealers, can be $100+ to have them do it. I always say no, do it myself at a reasonable interval.
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Back in 2014 when I took my then new Highlander for the 2 free oil changes they offered to change the Cabin Air-filter for me and only charge me $50 for labor. It’s literally a 5 minute job. Only cabin filter I’ve ever changed that is easier to change is my 2017 Vette which you access from the engine bay.
I do filters at 20,000 miles unless there is some cabin Oder. If the shop goes to the work of checking, it# just as easy to put a new one in as putting the old one back. So if I go to the work of emptying the glove box to look, Itbgrts a new one, if that makes sense.
Especially when, as with my aunt’s Chevy 2014 Cruze, the engine air resides under at least half a dozen tiny screws which must be removed to get the cover off the filter box, instead of 2 or 3 big clippy things like on my Honda.
Not an engineering choice by GM but one designed to promote labor fees.
Auto parts stores offer several different grades of filters, none of them are low priced. The Beck/Arnley charcoal cabin air filter is $37 (my location).
The OEM filter, P/N 87139-58010 shown below has a MSRP of $53, this is a charcoal filter.
P/N 87139-58010 or 87139-0E040 should have been installed during your courtesy 10,000-mile service.
Toyota has an economy line of filters, some as low as $20 and are as thin as the cheap filter at Walmart. My experience with parts department clerks; they will substitute the OE filter with an economy line filter and bill the customer for the OE filter.
Shown below is an example of a value line filter for Corolla and Camry, will also fit several Lexus models. It is a basic filter, no better than the cheapest filter at the auto parts store:
The only problem I see what that assumption is that it also costs them more to build the car using that approach. There is huge focus during design to minimize build labor.
It’s hard to know just by looking at it why they chose that route. Maybe it’s because they cheaped out on the enclosure design or materials and using clips wouldn’t keep it closed properly so they had to go back to screws. Somebody likely made a design choice based on the lesser evils.
It’s certainly possible that it is purposely designed to promote professional service but those kind of choices can blow up in their face. People that DIY get miffed, people that opt for the dealership service to do it get miffed it costs so much (remember that labor cost still exists and gets passed on) and so on.
You have proof of that? If that’s their design criteria then why is the filter on my 2017 Corvette so easy. It’s literally a 3 minute job. How To Change 2014-2019 C7 Corvette Cabin Air Filter - Stingray Grand Sport Z06 ZR1
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Yeah, that filter would have gotten tapped on the fuse box(?) and or blown out and reinstalled… 
That video is for a cabin air filter. I specifically mentioned engine air, which on the 2014 Cruze requires the removal of 5-6 screws to access. I speculated that it was done that way to be able to charge customers more labor.
Not sure what that statement means.
Vehicle manufactures don’t collect labor fees from customers. Manufactures pay dealers labor fees for warranty work and maintenance plans.
The labor time for air filter replacement is usually 0.1 or 0.2 hours, not enough to earn a great income. Some techs will charge 1/2-hour labor to replace a filter; I don’t believe corporate would support that practice.
From this image it would appear GM spent too much on the large air cleaner housing, perhaps the intent is to prevent the release of hydrocarbons.
While not the same shape, nor even on the same side of the engine, it is about the size of my Accord’s airbox. yet with the Honda you just slide one end into retaining hooks, and then snap two clasps downward to seal it shut. It is also lined with a gasket, so no worries about anything getting in or out, through the cover anways.
No wonder Hondas and Toyotas sold, and still sell, in such numbers.
Most people don’t buy new cars specifically because of the ease . . . or difficulty . . . to replace a filter, imo
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It means banging the filter on something hard to shake the dirt loose. You’ve never done this? Pretty basic.
I don’t remember which Gm car but had maybe four screws on the filter housing. The problem was not access but corrosion on the screws. So th3 snaps were much better. I don’t take the whole housing off on an6 of them, just enough to slip a new filter in.
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We use Toyota oil filters in our Lexæmergencyehicles.
After use I have taken one apart but myisual inspection means nothing.
Buy from Toyota dealer in 10-filter box for be$t.
Now you’re talking! 
Of course I do that - on a clean patch of driveway or the garage floor, not back into the engine bay.
You’re right. This discussion was about the cabin filter, I didn’t know you changed the subject. But even that - GM air filters are NOT that complicated on most models. Yours is a pain, but the Traverse and equinox are pretty dam easy,