[goldfeld]

Many technological advances happen like this, where the first few to use get an edge, then everyone else uses as it becomes a requirement rather than an edge--and the situation is then irreversible because anyone trying to opt out of the trend would be at great disadvantage (unless some really clever marketing and rationale is employed, of course).

But if somehow everyone opted out together they would be better off for it (sometimes even consumers, though arguably not in this case). It's commonly referred to as "smart for one, dumb for all."