This is the same problem as the account security problem. If the original owner did not remove their account from the device, you can't contact them, and you don't have a receipt, you are indistinguishable from someone who stole the device.

It's like buying a car from someone who doesn't have the keys for it or any paperwork. Sure, it's not quite common knowledge like buying a car yet, but it will be eventually.

>It's like buying a car from someone who doesn't have the keys for it or any paperwork. Sure, it's not quite common knowledge like buying a car yet, but it will be eventually.

This is a really good point, but I'd like to counter with the observation that the anti-theft features of cars don't routinely brick products the way Apple does with activation lock.

Newer cars will only work with their official keys. My car is locked and if I lose my two keys, I’d need to go back to the mother company for another key.

However, a car parts are not molded like an Apple laptop. Most of them can be sold for good value.