You don't have to go in person. Put it in the mail. In person can get same day service though. Next day mail is expensive, but you can get it (and if Apple is serious they can partner with the next day mail and do overnight repairs.). It isn't uncommon for someone to ship you are replacement device and then you ship your broken one back after the new arrives (if the old is only partially broke this can be useful). Apple has a lot of options to make this not too inconvenient.
Though will Apple blink is still unknown. Just because they can doesn't mean they will.
The UK public would never accept this. There's basically almost no interest in E2EE at all, but the idea of not being able to take your iPhone to the Apple Store would be riot-inducing. And I think the average Brit would be more comfortable posting their phone to the US than to France.
If Apple really has the guts to stare this one down, then I would expect it's the government who blinks.
Though will Apple blink is still unknown. Just because they can doesn't mean they will.