I don't doubt it was in the works, but on what time frame? Timing probably matters: when most of the market already agrees you can't wait for the last group, y

I don't doubt it was in the works, but on what time frame? Timing probably matters: when most of the market already agrees you can't wait for the last group, you have to strike before everyone defuses again. And while I can imagine that apple had a plan here, the part that doesn't fit is that they protested the mandate. If this had no effect on their plans, why bother?