The choice needs to be independent of the rest of the stack. If Apple wants to make an option where you can lock your iPhone to only installing apps from Apple's store and taking it out of that mode requires a factory reset, that's fine, because the customer has a choice.

Tying that choice to the choice of hardware and operating system is anti-competitive.

> Tying that choice to the choice of hardware and operating system is anti-competitive.

Except you've just invented that arbitrary distinction.

You can't seriously suggest that a Microwave, Treadmill, Car, Calculator, Thermometer etc would all need to invest the ridiculous amounts of time/money in supporting users wishing to install alternate operating systems.

One is not like the others. Modern mobile phones are pocket computers. And for some people the only device through which they can access more and more tools of modern life. Even the browser choice is severely limited.

Why is tying software to hardware anti-competitive? It's commonplace in literally everywhere, from washing machines to televisions to game consoles to CNC machines to cars to tractors. An overwhelming majority of hardware is sold with software included, and is designed to work with that software alone. Why are we trying to force iPhones into a special, narrow category they are actively avoiding? Why do we need to make the distinction at all?

Because iPhones specifically allow installation of other software, and are advertised as such?

Yes, other software approved by Apple, on the Apple Store, subject to Apple security and UX review (also advertised as such).

Having the choice is great. It’s nice to use walled gardens sometimes (I’m writing this on an iPad) and to have options like Linux for more control and some tinkering.

It just blows my mind a little when I imagine the walled garden approach being applied more broadly and earlier. E.g. if the creators of web browsers and search engines had all decided they want a cut of sales from websites. (I mean a cut of sales from organic search, not just ads. And all sales made using the browser.)

Those “what might have been” scenarios tend to make me less comfortable with my iPad and my Android phone. But I still have them because I like them.