[hedora]

I like iFixit, but that part of the article is nonsense. They completely ignore the standard argument for parts pairing as a theft deterrent:

A shady shop buys a box of broken, non-activation-locked phones, and a box of stolen, working, but activation-locked phones.

They install parts from box two on mainboards from box one. This completely defeats activation locks and cell modem blacklisting.

The same thing is commonly done for other high-value products. It is what automotive chop shops do (there, a wrecked car with a clean vin + stolen car with dirty vin is turned into a sellable car with a clean vin).

[smoldesu]

They refute your point altogether - any sufficiently dedicated chop-shop can install box one parts on a box two phone with enough effort. This happens all the time in China and there's no reason to doubt it happens in America too. At best, Apple is slightly blocking the floodgate for one-off urban muggings. At worst, they're using a non-existent threat vector as an excuse to expand their already-exploitative repair parts scheme. Anyone who's had to repair a Macbook without warranty knows that Apple will refuse to sell you replacement parts for what they're worth.

> It is what automotive chop shops do

If you think this is about iPhone chop-shops, you have lost the script. Apple designed this scheme from the bottom-up, if they wanted you to have control over your phone they would have left an escape-hatch. When someone locks your door and doesn't give you the key, it's always worth asking: Cui bono?