This. Zero friction, though I wouldn't say I'm a casual user, there's no way I'm setting up a tether on a 8 minute Uber. With my laptop I just pull it out of my bag and go.
Tethering on macOS is super easy, your phone is just in the list of WiFi access points at the top. Not any harder than picking a WiFi AP. Kinda prefer being in the loop here since cellular data is usually metered - and as another post said, it's also nice to have a single plan instead of dealing with separate billing.
I tether my iPhone to my macBook several times a day (going to and from work on the bus). I don't know if anyone else has this experience, but my laptop will instantaneously find 30+ WiFi access points I don't care about and never use, but can take up-to a minute to find my iPhone, sometimes even with repeated 'prodding'.
> there's no way I'm setting up a tether on a 8 minute Uber.
I swipe down my quick settings bar and tap the button labeled "Hotspot". I don't even have to unlock my phone. If I have time to get my laptop out I have time to do a single swipe and tap on my phone too.