[reaperducer]

This is 2022. Authenticator apps, sms, magic links. Why I need to call them, or even ask for an appointment.

It's inconvenient, but life is inconvenient. Such is the way of the world.

While it's true that this sort of thing shouldn't happen, your comments here seem to indicate that your big blocking point is that you don't want to talk to a human being. You want 2FA or magic links or some tech-focused hands-off method of resolving your problem.

Real life isn't like that. Sometimes you actually HAVE to go down to the DMV, or the post office, or the county clerk, or the returns counter at the store. The world is not the ideal tech utopia that the SV bubble has sold us. It's still run by wetware. Sometimes you have to just go through the motions instead of having a hissy fit on social media.

[mastax]

Isn't owning a Premium Apple Product supposed to be convenient and not like going to the DMV?

[KiDD]

You don’t even need to own an Apple product to create an AppleID.