[Ducki]

Actually, you don't need an iCloud account to use a mac. Neither do you in order to use an iPhone.

[salamandersauce]

But you do lose a lot of functionality. Especially on the iPhone as there is no real way to add apps without it.

[eddieroger]

There's no way to add apps, but it still functions as a phone and communication device. Clearly not why someone would buy an iPhone, but it's not the same as being completely unable to progress with the system because one can't login.

[astrange]

App Store and iCloud accounts are separate.

[salamandersauce]

This is a distinction with almost no difference. You're still trusting Apple with essentially same set of data.

[astrange]

List of installed apps vs entire content of your device backup and all your photos?

[BBC-vs-neolibs]

This is an uncelebrated (accidental) security feature. One of the most secure "burner" devices there are, is an iPhone or iPad with no iCloud configuration.

Good for semi-anonymous browsing for instance, also because fingerprinting of the browser looks the same as a bunch of other iOS devices.

[deregulateMed]

How do you do this?

The initial boot makes this seem impossible.