[daigoba66]

My cynical view is that this is a way to increase the price of the iPhone without it seeming like it.

For example, in the past I've always purchased the "base" model. First 8GB then 16GB. But now, for me, 16GB is probably 1/2 my ideal storage size, so I'd probably purchase the more expensive 64GB model.

The new "base" model is effectively $100 more expensive.

[dhm]

I think it's a huge hit to their brand image with consumers if this is true, because they haven't sold woefully underprovisioned current-model-year iPhones before, at least that I can recall.

I have heard the argument that they offer the smaller storage devices for institutional bulk purchase (think high school iPads with a narrower range of use cases and a managed and/or limited base of installed software), but if that's the case they should stop offering those models to consumers in general.

[wlesieutre]

I was in the same boat. Instead of buying an iPhone 6, I saved $250 (500 vs 750) and got a Z3 Compact instead.

It's not perfect (the camera is garbage in low light), but it has a MicroSD slot, fits in my hand, and costs a lot less. And I can pick what app I want to use for web browsing, mailto: links, maps, etc.

I'm betting Apple finally concedes default apps in iOS 9, but I don't see them ever adding expandable storage.