[Terretta]

OK, I'll talk about why...

What does Apple sell? A commodity computing device running undifferentiated software? Or the experience of a holistic tool?

When someone distributes a Messenger by itself, you don't ask why it isn't open. You don't ask why the hardware device isn't open. Why should a vendor unbundle the two just to make you happy?

What if it doesn't really unbundle, what if the capabilities combine to offer most buyers something they value more than pieces parts?

[shireboy]

I totally get that argument for things that aren’t commodity. Chat and file share should be interoperable services in 2019. Like Email is and has been for ages (though not always as any GroupWise or BBS user will tell you). The vendors can bundle and have closed source implementations, but by definition they should work with any provider. But I feel the same way about “you can only iMessage other iPhones” as I would if I could only email other iPhones (or as a better analogy if emails to non-iPhones were reduced in functionality.) and yes, they should make me happy- I’m the customer.