people KNOW they are just not friendly to repairing your shit easily.

You know, I got into an argument about this recently and there were 3 different people trying to argue exactly the opposite to me. And they used ifixit's scores as evidence. So no, people don't know. Apple's disinformation works.

My partner and I left the apple ecosystem about a year ago. We got new phones and gave our old watches, airtags, and airpods to friends and family that wanted them. It felt like it was going to be too much to give up, but honestly it's been great.

There's so much more freedom in every facet of the phone. Apple likes to give an option, a rich people option, and occasionally a truly professional tier. Leaving Apple behind, I have wireless earbuds I love that have an 8hr lifespan out of the dock. They were fifty dollars and they sound easily better than airpods. It felt like it would be expensive to leave, but the alternatives once you leave the ecosystem tend to be cheaper pound for pound.