"You just have to use a different operating system"
No. This can't help the customer who already bought a device, because Apple can (and does) change the terms on which the device is used. It would be more fair to use the word 'rent' when you buy Apple's devices, because you don't truly own them, Apple does: It decides which apps you can run, and it can pull off the apps you need from the Appstore, and so on.
When Apple alters the deal, all their customers can do is pray Apple doesn't alter them any further. This IS a monopoly, and you can't use a different operating system on your iPhone if it would be rendered useless to you by Apple.
You could say the same for game consoles and yet people are okay with those being closed systems because you can choose between different brands.
I don't like Apple's business practices either, but labels like monopoly and "rent"ing a device have clear definitions and Apple doesn't hit them. If anything this is a failure of regulations to catch up to the reality of technology.
The focus in the future should be mandating things like repair and interoperability.
> You can't use a different operating system on your iPhone if it would be rendered useless to you by Apple.
This is not true. First, all apps already installed are not automatically uninstalled just because they've been pulled from the store, you just stop getting updates. Secondly, even if Apple completely drops all app support for your phone, it does not make it "useless". The phone still does all of the basic functions it was advertised to do. Having a device get new features in the form of apps is not required, it's a nice to have. At best you maybe could make an argument for misleading advertising if any launch features were gone (see PlayStation otheros) but Apple have been very diligent to make sure that's not the case.
No. This can't help the customer who already bought a device, because Apple can (and does) change the terms on which the device is used. It would be more fair to use the word 'rent' when you buy Apple's devices, because you don't truly own them, Apple does: It decides which apps you can run, and it can pull off the apps you need from the Appstore, and so on.
When Apple alters the deal, all their customers can do is pray Apple doesn't alter them any further. This IS a monopoly, and you can't use a different operating system on your iPhone if it would be rendered useless to you by Apple.