[sbierwagen]

It was an aphorism, but I'll grant you that.

But a backup that would take the same effort (a $10 alarm clock) using entirely different hardware and software would be significantly more robust than just using another iphone.

The 747 has two sets of controls and four completely redundant hydraulic systems for the control surfaces, rather than two controls for a common hydraulic system. In the cockpit it looks the same, but the backend is far safer.

Two iphones share all their software and hardware. Any bug in either would affect both. Additionally, they're both connected to the internet. If they both get a SMS of death, or if AT&T's NTP server decides to tell everything that connects to it that it's January 1st, 1970, 12:00AM, or if someone with a warrant tells them to remotely shut down both phones, etc etc etc. In contrast, the only thing I can think that would take out both a cell phone and a clock radio would be an EMP, or an explosion in the same room.

[ramchip]

> In contrast, the only thing I can think that would take out both a cell phone and a clock radio would be an EMP, or an explosion in the same room.

Perhaps more likely: the phone is close to discharged and a blackout happens. Both devices run out of power before morning.

Of course your point still stands.