Messaging between an iPhone (with iMessage) and a dumb phone (with SMS) absolutely works, but Apple has no interest in showing you how to get out of the iMessag

Messaging between an iPhone (with iMessage) and a dumb phone (with SMS) absolutely works, but Apple has no interest in showing you how to get out of the iMessage bubble (pun intended) once you're in. They want to pull you into their ecosystem because that makes them money but if you want out, you're on your own. Lots of companies behave like that, only consumer protection laws could force them to change.