Hit concrete in the right corner on an iPhone and it will break.

For me, it's just not worth it. Had iPhones break while on trips and it's just an absolute hassle dealing with replacements, especially when there aren't Apple stores for hours, while I can just put on a protector and done.

(Plus I think a clear case looks really nice and brings a retro Casio vibe.)

I must be some crazy outlier because I've never dropped or broken a phone in 25+ years of mobile phone use. Yet, one out of every 10 phone screens I see in the general public seems to be all cracked to pieces, and the mall kiosks that swap screens seem to be always doing business. Do I just have some superhuman hand eye coordination or something? Who are all these people dropping their $1000+ phones? Wouldn't you be more careful with something you sent that much coin on? I can't believe how often people destroy their own phones.

I shared your mentality.

I didn't get a case when I bought my 15 pro.

For two weeks I was without a case, dropped the phone two or three times.

Screen got scratched in 3 places and the paint chipped from around the bazel.

Went into a store and got a case.

Also because the camera bulge means the phone can't lay flat on a flat surface without a case.

Original iPhone SE was peak smartphone.

Same camera hardware as the flagship 6s, but more comfortable to use one-handed and the camera lens was flush with the back.