I know it has been said many times over, but why hasn't Kawi fixed this and added it to the Concours?
There was only a single moderate redesign of the C14, just two years after it was released (2010). CC wasn't compelling enough for them at the time, especially since the C14 does not have throttle-by-wire, so adding cruise would be more complicated and expensive. On a throttle-by-wire design, having CC is just a few lines of software code, and a button/indicator.
It is apparent that Kawasaki has had no interest in upgrading or redesigning the Concours, it has been a dead-end model for many years now. It is actually shocking each year that they still manage to release a new model year in only North America- the Concours (GTR) has been discontinued everywhere else.
The market for a large, fast, big-engine, sport tourers is just not there anymore. It is unfortunate, because all of us LIKE that type of bike and very much want to see the Concours evolve. But it isn't going to. You will have to change to another manufacturer, or settle for something Kawasaki that isn't a sport tourer, like the very expensive, smaller wheelbase, chain-driven, fixed-windscreen, lesser-faired, lesser-storage H2 SX SE+.
The FJR has had it for a few years now, but they also had a major redesign and Kawi hasn't done that yet (will they ever?).
No. (Or perhaps I should say, "it is extremely unlikely")
I know there is an option for installing an aftermarket version, but not sure I want to go down that path on a bike that is a 2009 and is now 12 years old.
It is your only option, if you want cruise control. Otherwise, throttle-locks have to suffice. Personally, I think it is disappointing that the C14 didn't have cruise and that they didn't try to graft one onto it, but I don't see it as a major issue. And that is coming from someone who has carpal tunnel and numb hands a lot.