When a product start becoming such an important part of its owner life, and has such a huge market share, I believe society should impose some rules on it to ensure it conforms with the ideals of said society. In this case, ability to be in control your non niche computing device.
So I think this is a case where we must agree to disagree.
But people buy them because of the restriction that you don't like. you're imposing your own standard on something you probably wouldn't even buy. I doubt most users give one single thought to rooting their phone
You will need a source that people buy them because of the restriction.
> you're imposing your own standard
No, our EU society has done so, through our elected parliament.
> I doubt most users give one single thought to rooting their phone
This subject has nothing to do with rooting a phone.
There you go.
Now you can argue with more nuance than “users are being held hostage!”
As an example of where your android example is worrying, stalker apps are currently only available for Android.
I was always of the opinion that if you didn't like the walled garden, don't buy apple. That's also a choice. It looks like this was a successful startegy on apple's part, and people want to muscle in.