Most likely not unless the user compiles it (or finds it on somewhere like xda-developers from someone else who compiled) and flashes it. The problem with that though is if Android updates break compatibility with any of the proprietary drivers it may come with in the future. The device could also be made by one of those shady OEMs that don't comply with releasing the kernel source under GPL. Either one of those things happening just made compiling the latest version of Android much much harder as well as certain components not working or having full functionality.
Even with that though, the kernel not getting updates and continued patches makes it harder to keep things built for an end user, but I'm not sure if that is so much of an issue past the Linux 2.x to 3.0 jump with Android devices.
Updates for anything Android outside of Nexus devices that Google maintains are generally far from automatic or dependable.
