You are giving Apple too much credit here. Apple can plaintext any iMessage if they wish with their signing keys for the servers that exchange user encryption k

You are giving Apple too much credit here. Apple can plaintext any iMessage if they wish with their signing keys for the servers that exchange user encryption keys. Why do you think the CCP demanded control of those servers for chinese residents? Just because Apple has a profit model other than adtech does not mean they are making choices that prioritize immutable privacy. Apple could have folded, like even (old) Google did, and refused to comply with the CCP but shareholders would have been too upset seeing the price go down. Successful publicly traded companies will almost always do the most profitable thing legally possible, no matter how evil.