I bought an iPhone over 10 years ago cause all my friends had one. That was back in the 4s days. I have used an iPhone ever since and honestly I love the solid software updates, iMessage and FaceTime are big since I’m American, and generally app support is better.
Now with Apple making phones with usb c, putting RCS in the OS with side loading to some degree, it will really help blur the line for a lot of folks.
Conversely Google have started making their own custom silicone and I use a Pixel 7 for work and that thing is freaking fast. But Apple put their own custom silicone first so I guess this is an Android move to what iPhone has been doing.
Naturally there’s a lot to love about my iPhone but it’s really just a tool at the end of the day and I don’t think much about it. It’s there when I need it.
Lots of theories and ideas here but is what Steve wanted best for Apple? They have been pushing into the trillions in their evaluation since Steve’s passing. He was a revolutionary and Apple would not have survived in the earlier days without him but quite honestly they as a company are probably doing better without an obsessive member of the board.