I am certainly very pro-removable-battery, but I feel like it's a safe bet your diving torch uses a round screw-on battery cover that is easy to get a reliable seal with even pressure across the whole thing compared to a flat rectangular opening like a phone battery. They are not comparable.

Yes, that’s true it’s a round screw on cap on the torch.

However, my casio G-Shock often comes with me and it’s only protected by a flat surface pushing on a gasket through 4 tiny screws.. the battery inside is a coin shape.

So I still think that’s an excuse.

I didn't say it was impossible, just that the flashlight comparison is not great because it's not only a much easier design to seal but it's also a lot more tolerant of leaks.

it looks like you thinking about the excuses not the solutions. if you can't solve this problem does not mean that there is no one in the market who can't. and so we as consumers will reward the one who can't solve these new constraints presented by regulations.

No, my post was literally about the fact that sealing a flashlight is not the same as sealing a modern smartphone.

I didn't say it was impossible, or that people shouldn't try it, just that the flashlight comparison isn't relevant.

It's not hard. Can make a disk shape battery that can be screwed into the back of the phone with a flat screwdriver.

That's not relevant. Your phone does not need to work for a long time underwater. The phone can be perfectly waterproof even if there's water between phone and battery.

My phone is a lot more sensitive to water intrusion. Having dropped totally non-waterproof flashlights in pools as a kid they'll generally still work even if totally flooded. Even if they get bad enough to stop working they'll almost certainly work perfectly once dried out.

That's not the case with a modern smartphone.

Same with GoPros.