There is ample proof that Apple pays off their parts suppliers to prevent them from selling components on the open market. Louis Rossman has documented it well.

There is ample proof that Apple pays off their parts suppliers to prevent them from selling components on the open market. Louis Rossman has documented it well. Failure prone chips like USB muxers and voltage regulators that are unique to Apple devices but made by suppliers who's products are otherwise available on Digikey and Mouser somehow those aren't. SMDs are not anticonsumer. They are harder to work with but with practice anyone can deal with them just fine. I've yet to see anyone argue for a through hole mandate. But I have seen people argue for banning clearly anti repair design practices like gluing assemblies together. Or designing a screen in such a way that you have a high chance of breaking it when removing it.