Right, I didn't mean to say that they've made it totally impossible, but that the form factor they're trying to push as the "next thing," wireless audio, is not

Right, I didn't mean to say that they've made it totally impossible, but that the form factor they're trying to push as the "next thing," wireless audio, is not actually a replacement for that use case ("successor product" refers to wireless headphones, not newer iPhone generations). But, yeah, I agree that the ecosystem makes it worth it -- it's not like there are any other viable alternatives, anyway.