What I mean by jeopardize is that these changes taken on their own would be seen as bad by many consumers, it is only because apple also provides an alternative (however expensive) that they end up getting away with it in public opinion (and sales).
You really think that most people prefer wired headphones than wireless? How many Android users - mostly on low end phones since high end Android phones also don’t have headphone jacks - actually prefer wired headphones?
You also act as if iPhones only work with AirPods and not any cheap Bluetooth headset you can pick up from anywhere.
Even Apple sells low end Beats Flex headphones for $50 that have the W1 chip with the special Apple sauce.
I have a pair for traveling that I don’t have to worry about falling out.
They're becoming even more of a luxury fashion brand. Enough people are willing to pay the higher prices that they come out ahead, but that's not about being "likable".
Where are these people in the US? They aren’t the 60%+ who are buying iPhones. They also aren’t the ones who are buying the Google Pixel, or high end Samsung Galaxies.