This isn't about technological autonomy. OP signed up for wireless service that is specifically sold as Hotspot WiFi-first. That's one of its main features. It's sold as that very, very clearly. If you don't want their WiFi, go get service from another provider!

Just because a service is marketed as having a feature doesn't mean they have an excuse to undo a user setting in their OS that explicitly says they don't want to use it. Maybe they do want to connect to the advertised network when traveling but auto connect shouldn't be forced on them. I don't understand why you are trying to defend this so adamantly.

> OP signed up for wireless service that is specifically sold as Hotspot WiFi-first

No I didn’t. I bought cell service, they advertise that they also offer hotspots but all the carriers do that.

Nowhere did I sign up for unauthorized modifications of my owned devices wifi stack.

If you have a better solution than the 3GPP and member parties i.e. carriers have come up with I invite you to build your own better network experience and handsets rather than just posting snark. Perhaps try mounting some hubcaps to trees.

I don’t think 3GPP is on trial here, seizing customer owned wifi radios is

> Just build your own network.

I did build my own network, and my ability to connect to it was forcibly overridden with no way to opt out.

That is entirely the point.

Edit: rulebreaking removed.