For myself, I'm sticking with an older phone and IEMs with replaceable cables. Super happy with it because I'm OK with the tradeoff of dealing with the wire instead of dealing with batteries and replacements every 2-3 years. So sure, Apple has made some profit off of wireless buds. But they could make even more profit by adding a headphone jack and allowing folks who want wireless buds to use them. (no, dongles and lightning headphones do not solve this issue -- I want to be able to use the same connector for all my devices, and I want to be able to use it while charging) At least add it to the SE, for Pete's sake.
How would this generate more profit for Apple?
I think what will hurt them in the long run is their pattern of user-hostility will start to affect their image. For instance:
* Right to repair gaining steam (Apple now introducing some basic form of parts availability)
* Apple eroding their image as a Privacy company (Apple had to delay their "child safety" tools after public outcry)
* iMessage lock-in (Apple users "bullying" Android users due to Apple's hostile UI choices).
Those are just the recent examples that come to mind.
It'll all add up until Apple has a PR problem that actually does start affecting their bottom line, and then they'll have to make concessions that'll make people happy again.
However, my 6 was proper dying, so once they bought out the SE or whatever with a sensible form factor and fingerprint scanner I was convinced it was better than trying to switch
GP's requirements were either a fingerprint sensor or headphone jack before switching.
What are you talking about? Is someone stopping you from using wired earbuds?
I perpetually loose my headphones anyway. If I had an adapter too, I'd find myself unable to listen to anything twice as often.
Shouldn't such an adapter have a female USB-C connector and pass that through to the male one, with the headphone jack being branched off? Do those not exist, or are they prohibitively expensive? Did the Apple "dongle" mentioned in sibling comments do it that way? (Sure oughta, IMO.)
I can understand the complaint about charging. Although the fanboy answer is of course wireless charging.
The next thing to go will be the physical SIM card tray - takes up a similar amount of space which is better utilized for battery capacity or other features, and also makes for easier waterproofing if removed.
(Btw there are 3.5mm to lightning adapters that let you charge while listening, just not made by Apple)