[ajklsdhfniuwehf]

> is to ensure that end users have freedom to use the devices they have purchased as they see fit

not really. Nobody can or wish to dictate how someone sells a product.

GPL is about GPL'ed code. not products.

> Suppose a company has patented some algorithm ... that also uses GPLv3 code

you keep moving the goal post. Remove GPL from your example! If that "some algorithm" was built on top of someone else's proprietary (and patented) work, wouldn't they have to satisfy that entity desires on how it wishes to license their work?

The ONLY difference is that GPL only requires that you make your work available under GPL. Easy. Other entities might ask for money. Others, such as apple, would just tell you to F off and you'd never be able to sell the code or the product. Which one is more restrictive or worse?

compare apples to apples please.