[beagle3]

But value is not absolute.

I broke my 6s home key last year. The phone was 5 years old at this point. Apple would fix it, for $200 or so. A local guy fixed it for $30. But there is a difference (I was made aware of by both Apple and local guy before choosing):

Fingerprint reader would only keep working if Apple fixed it. Was it worth $170? Not to me. It might to someone else.

In this case, it’s way after the end of AppleCare. But these values (working fingerprint reader, and in general Apple certified original parts vs aftermarket) has a value that differs among people.

Apple decided they prefer to cater to those with higher value for this stuff - and they likely are right economically, as it likely lets them capture value in other places in the ecosystem.

P.s. still typing this from the same 6s.