I have just this afternoon upgraded the firmware on my Aeotec Z-Stick 7 (ZWA010) from 7.15 to 7.17.
To do this, I unplugged the Z-Stick from my Indigo iMac. Plugged it into the PC. Then upgraded the firmware using the Silicon Labs PC Controller software. While the Z-Stick was plugged into the PC, I also took the opportunity to upgrade the firmware in my Heltun Quinto Relays (Gen 7) from 1.03 to 1.04 doing an OTA update. When I had finished the updates, I unplugged the Z-Stick from the PC plugged it back into Indigo which recognised the new firmware level (7.17) and then just did a re-sync of the devices that I had upgraded the firmware on with Indigo then showing the firmware as 1.04 on the Heltuns.
I didn't have to do any Exclusion or Inclusion of the Heltuns to achieve this.
Obviously, while doing this process, Z-Wave was inoperable on Indigo as the Z-Stick was detached. I did it in a predicted low Z-Wave activity period.
Not sure this 100% relevant for you, but sharing in case it is.