I read a comment on HN that said AppleTV is what you describe.
The author seems to be ignoring the Mac G3/G4/G5/Pro computers.
Apple is still in the pro audio market, aren't they?
Only we use the phone tons of times a day, and there is no replacement with existing carrier services etc.
If you mean the actual data <-> phone connection, then probably correct if you are frequently outside of wifi range. If you mean calling / texting, then I have used a google voice (sms) and skype number (calling) (they are the same number as gv forwards to the skype number for calls) for about 4 years now with no actual phone service. It's great because it works on almost any platform (even windows phone with sms to email forwarding, even though google doesn't support wp) and doesn't tie me to a single device like e.g. whatsapp.
Is that stance from a reductio ad absurdum contest? Like nobody ever use with great success an humble audio cable for non expensive audio stuff in the real world outside the silicon valley?
My modest proposal : if you really want to remove an more than often annoying 150-years old technology that we don't realize yet we don't really need it
... remove the Phone from the iPhone