[camillomiller]

My question is: why hasn't the fbi gone after a smaller player to set this kind of precedent? One that wouldn't have had the huge legal resources to oppose the request that Apple has.

I think what's coming out of this is that the Fbi is riddled with incompetence and inability to face modern threats, plus a silly hybris that is the foundation for silly strategical mistakes.

[chopin]

Presumably because smaller players don't have such elaborate security. Those can always argue that the government should use one of the well-known exploits.

I also could imagine that Apple would aid such a case anyways.