[crossroadsguy]

If most of Apple's regular/repeat/fan users cared about such things and gave importance to other things like user hostile "everything" Apple does (access to support, repair, warranty, escalation.. the list is too fucking long!), Apple might have been nowhere near the behemoth it is today. The typical Apple user is the Apple fan and they will buy Apple, upgrade every year or every other year, stand in line, defend Apple no matter what and that is what Apple cares about.

Apple's target audience is not the crowd that is still pining for the return of the 4.x inch phone. Apple's target audience (few but this gives an idea) lives on those Reddit subs and discussions.apple.com where if someone asks a way to affix the upper cover of an AirPod case (which needs 1-2 mins and a glue; NOTHING else), multiple most upvoted comments are "but why don't you go to Apple support and replace/buy a new case". Oh and by the way Apple also officially says "fuck you, buy another one - we don't fucking fix such things" out of warranty and in warranty as well that comes as physical and cosmetic damage. That's just an example.

So no, this is not doing jackshit to Apple's reputation i.e sales.