I’ve never decided to take advantage of waterproofing, which made me all the more appreciative on the times I’ve unexpectedly done so.

Yes. Quite many of these phones without headphone jack or replaceable battery are, in fact, not waterproof. Removing a "niche feature" such as a headphone jack for a niche feature (no quotes) like waterproofing seems like a bad excuse to plug the DRM hole, save cost and sell bluetooth headphones, to be honest.

What is taking advantage of that feature? You still probably aren’t going to go swimming with your phone but you’re a lot less likely to ruin it when you accidentally drop it in the pool.

I find people enjoy the novelty of taking photos underwater or when in the pool/lake/sea. I often have to point out that their phones are also waterproof and they run off to grab it for underwater (or just around the water) photography.

Yes - even a splash of water won't concern people as much. If they had a way to secure from the screen not cracking, well that's something most people would appreciate.

I take advantage of that all the time. I lost two mobile phones to rain before I decided I'll never buy a phone without waterproofing again.

I've replaced three phones to battery expiration and one phone to water damage (dropped in a mud filled puddle - it turned on again after drying out but didn't trust it seeing corroded battery/sim contacts).

I'm especially curious how rain has damaged phones - I use them in Ireland where you can just say "scattered showers" and have a 50% chance of an accurate forecast. Never thought twice about using any in the rain, and never bought a "waterproof" phone. I always assumed the puddle/pool scenario was what the waterproofing fuss was. Or are people using phones in hurricanes or monsoons or something?

> Or are people using phones in hurricanes or monsoons or something?

I don't know about those, but we get fairly heavy rainfall every now and then here in Norway. The kind where your underwear gets soaking wet for no other reason than being outside.

I keep my phone in the front pocket of my pants, and after losing two phones to such events I decided that was enough for me.

Now I can check when the bus is due or take that call even if it's raining (heavy or not) and I don't have to think about it.

I just got out of a bath where I was using my phone...