'Private company, they do what they want'

That's correct, but we can still boycott companies that do this.

We really can't. Smartphones are practically a mandatory part of modern life. My previous job required me to have one for tons of work-related authentication/software.

There is no choice outside Google/Apple when it comes to mobile devices. None which are fully compatible with a normal person's way of life, or which provides access to the same apps.

It may be technically possible to avoid them, but 'technically possible' and 'competitive alternative' are worlds apart.

The alternative is the pinephone. It's coming along and has gotten to the point where it's stable and fast. Most distros will probably have MMS support at some point this year.

That doesn't help if everyone you want to interact with refuses to talk to you if you don't have an iPhone because doing that has become fashionable.

> That doesn't help if everyone you want to interact with refuses to talk to you if you don't have an iPhone because doing that has become fashionable.

People do this?? Wow, that is unbelievably snobby.

That's true, but you can also disagree with the decision. It's not iOS where there's no alternative.

I'm convinced they think they'll be billionaires one day and so always jump to their defense.

No one is convinced of that. Do you only advocate for things because you’re afraid you’ll be in the same position someday?

Well I can't think of a better explanation why so many people jump to these corporation's defense when they do something this immoral and damaging.

Perhaps they like the value proposition and would like to continue participating in the mutually beneficial transaction with these corporations as we all should in a free society. Your opinion is not more valid than your opponents’. “Immoral” is highly subjective.

Not if the "Hanlon’s Razor" crew gets here first

Wouldn't this just not be a problem if they rewrote it in Rust?

Add a blockchain in there and we're in business.

Only if it would be on the blockchain.

Just monopolies protecting our democracy, like Adam Smith envisioned.

Does that make you part of the obnoxiously useless comment gang?