The problem with this 'I know the risks' approach is that it is often put out there by people who do know the risks but these people are massively outnumbered by the huge mass of people who have no idea about the risks but will gladly install from Bob's FlyByNight App Emporium if it means they will get a "can't lose" video poker app or a chance to win a free Fortnite skin and please be sure to click OK to all of those security warnings thanks so much for your bank details...

If you want a different ecosystem there are choices available to you. Why exactly are you complaining when it is clear no one is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to use Apple products?

I think the answer to this is painfully clear: because no one makes hardware anywhere near close to the quality of mac and iphone hardware in those verticals.

We'd like to use the best available software, running on the best available hardware.

Criticizing Apple's software censorship choices is thus the natural logical target. Otherwise, we have to use things like the PinePhone for the next 10-15 years until someone makes something comparable to an iPhone 6 that can run whatever software the owner wants.

Alternatively one could contribute to making the competing hardware just as good.

Do you have any suggestions as to how? I am not in the phone business.

By buying phones from the likes of Jolla and Purism.

I'm not sure how buying products not remotely as good has any effect whatsoever on making anything "just as good".

By sponsoring the development of better phones.

First generation of iPhones also sucked versus what Symbian and Windows CE/Pocket PC phones were capable of.