Which is what Google pretty much did:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_China#Ending_of_self-ce...

So in the end, Chinese people wouldn't just lose 3rd party VPNs (the first party ones are AFAIK still present in iOS), they would lose all the security features.

Is that still worth the moral stance?

That's exactly what Google did:

https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-chin...

As far as I’m aware, from a privacy perspective, Google never had moral problems doing business in China. They’re just using it as a convenient excuse that makes them look good.

In other words, government censorship and attempts by the government to undermine user privacy were ultimately what led to the move out of China. The straw does appear to have been the hack, but the ultimate goal of the hack appeared to be to steal user data.

>Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

Your tone of voice seems to indicate you don't think that's actually an option.

Cook would immediately be fired by the board. They’d put someone new in, and that someone new would comply with China’s demand.

And no one would be better off. As Cook says at least Apple does the best they can and holds the line on other things like encrypting iMessage.

Somehow, that didn't happen when Google effectively withdrew from China.

If Apple were to pull out, even if the board didn’t fire Cook for that... would they be able to make phones? Is ANYWHERE on Earth capable of that other than China? I suppose you could buy all the parts from China and have them shipped somewhere else to be assembled but what would that do to the cost of the devices?

Would anyone buy an iPhone that starts at $1500 or $2000?

Probably, yeah. It doesn't seem like people mind paying $1000. It would just make it even more of a status symbol.

Are iPhones a Veblen good?

That would indeed take courage and principles on Cook's part. If the board had courage & principles they wouldn't fire him. And if they did — they'd demonstrate what sort of men they are.

> And no one would be better off.

Tim Cook would have his self-respect.

> Tim Cook would have his self-respect.

I agree. And I hope he’d hold the line.

But I think the people of China would be worse off. Stockholders would be worse off. Apple would be worse off, which means as an American buying heir products it might make them slightly worse for me.