Comment # 1 on bug 1154973 from Nathaniel Graham

IMO the problem here is mostly a matter of communication. If installing or
removing a package truly does require the installation of pending updates
first, this must be communicated to the user so they can decide whether they're
ready to install the updates.

That communication must be done both via the pkcon CLI and also using the API,
so that software center apps like Discover and GNOME Software can present an
appropriate message to the user.