[derefr]

To me, the statement reads more like several people having veto power, than several people having approval power.

Which seems sensible, even under a benevolent dictator: if the COO says the logistics are impossible, well, you'd better go back to the drawing board, even if the design is perfect.

[TheOtherHobbes]

I strongly suspect that Ive's work was as much about industrial implementation as aesthetics. It's a huge part of what designers actually do, vs what many people think they do - which is make sketches of shiny things all day, some of which get built by other people.

We'll see if there's a move to more repairability now that he's moving on.

I suspect there won't be, but I'd love to be proved wrong.