Nah, for system stuff that updates via Google Play, it’s always been like that. Like Android System Webview for example, if you search Google Play for it you only see the Beta and Developer versions of it. You need a direct link to see the default one included with modern Android.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.webview

By upgrade, do you mean OS upgrade?

I’ve never had an app frozen through ADB get auto-updated by the Play Store or Google Services and get re-enabled because of it. An app with an update available will even disappear from the Update list if disabled, and in order to update it you have to enable it first.

You can’t search for it. You have to open a direct link.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.safetycore

Using ADB:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.safetycore 

If you have Shizuku and aShell/ShizuShell installed, then just run this command in aShell:

pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.safetycore 

Alternatively, for a GUI method, setup Shizuku and then use an app like Hail or Ice Box

Reminds me of the recent news that the Pebble Smartwatch founder asked Google for the Pebble OS source code, and Google actually released it.

You can freeze using ADB/Shizuku as well. No root needed.