Hi Steve,
I would ask that this is not done TBH, all of the configuration is done at the server end.
If you update some packages, you may make it incompatible with the applications
If we need to do a full re-install including an OS update, we can do this by running the utility
/home/pi/rtlsdr-ogn/PilotAware-OGN.reinstall.sh
This will install a complete new image, as configured at the server.
A lot of careful work is done to ensure the applications run correctly in the OS, and I have had instances where upgrading the OS inadvertently breaks something (as you point out)
If and when we find any bugs that require an OS update, for sure this will be done.
Thx
Lee