[xp84]

I have to completely concur that it's probably one step toward an increasingly restrictive final state. Add a few "Are you sure?? You'll brick your phone!!!" warnings, then ID and age-verification mandatory (think of the children!!)

[hparadiz]

Maybe it's not good idea for our entire civilization to use only two mobile operating systems controlled by companies that only want to make money.

[account42]

Exactly, it's essentially (very much essential) infrastructure.

[ua709]

Labeling the phones essential infrastructure can pretty easily backfire if your goal is to be able to modify the phone as you like.

For an example think about how mods are treated on cars. There can be very good reasons for those restrictions, but if your goal is to be able to modify phones in the way you want, that might not be the best way to go about it.

In short, be careful what you wish for because sometimes you get it. :)