Just maybe the common wisdom of the HN zeitgeist that the only reason 50% of cell phone users in the US because it is a “status symbol” is wrong?

If you don’t subscribe to that notion, then it makes perfect sense to protect something that you paid $1200 for for the utilitarian value despite it making it look worse.

I’d an iPhone a status symbol? It’s barely possible to tell the manufacturer of a modern smartphone without taking off the case and checking the rear.

Because the cost & hassle of finding myself stuck somewhere far from home with a broken phone is non-trivial. Or even at home.

F = m * a

Even a thin case will greatly reduce the maximum force a phone will experience when dropped. Metal edged phones are great for flare, but terrible for drop absorbtion.

How is this equation relevant? A phone cases increases the value of m...

A phone case increase M on the impacted object. It does not increase it on the phone.

A soft barrier between the phone and the ground increase the time between initial velocity and end velocity; reducing acceleration. Therefore, reducing the maximum force the phone receives.