I would suggest that the rising numbers simply indicates that people don’t see viable alternatives. I mean - I would love to get off of Facebook - but my entire family is on there and they are not tech savvy. So if I want to communicate with them - that’s my choice.
And that was more than amply reinforced during the past year when we were all homebound. Facebook, for all of its problems, was the tool that was necessary for us to stay together. That doesn’t justify in any way their data collection and data sales practices. Just because a product or service is seen as necessary - it shouldn’t mean that company gets a pass to act without regard for those people who use that service.
Or they don’t deem it necessary to look for one. We are in a tech bubble and we assume that everyone thinks the way we do. That being said, I think that all of your points are valid. Zoom, FaceTime, WebEx, and other services also saw an increase in usage during lockdown. People who chose to use something else seemed to have been able to find an alterantive. I am not excusing Facebook - I stopped using Facebook about six months ago. I am still trying to wean myself off of IG.
It is even worse here, a friend of mine does repairs, he usually does it in the evening and brings it back the next day. There are dozens of independent repair shops that will do it, while you wait - or go and get a coffee and come back in an hour or so.
For official Apple repairs, you have to pack up the device, send it to an Apple authorised repair centre and wait 2 weeks for them to carry out the repair and send it back to you.
Yes… And my Lenovo? Next day on-site repair. And my Android phone? Next day swap out for a new/refurbished unit.
iPhone? 2 weeks away, no fault found. 1 day service, stopped working. 2 weeks away, no fault found. Stopped working before I left the shop. 2 weeks away, fault found, replacement unit sent… Yes, their service is… Special…
At work, Android phone stops working, provider swaps it out next day, no cost. If, after analysis, it was the user’s fault (broken display, water inside), we get an invoice. If an iPhone stops working, the user is without a phone for 2 weeks, no replacement, no loaner. Of course, you can pay for Apple Care on top, to get the same level as the free service provided for Android devices…
Apple makes some great kit, but their service and support (especially in the business field) leaves a lot to be desired.
If you live near an Apple Store, it might be a magical experience. For the other 95% of the population, “everybody” else seems to do it better.