Fwiw, the newer iPhone Pros are in fact extremely durable.

I don’t like cases (they make the phone too bulky for my liking) but also frequently drop my phone on stone/ceramic tiles (not the perfect combo, I know) and after 3 years of having a 13 Pro it’s still in great shape.

Just a few scratches on the corners of the phone (which usually get the most of the hit).

In other words, I very much appreciate them improving durability.

I have a 13 Pro. Gorgeous to see without a case but way too slippery for me. I need a case for grip.

People make jokes but we now carry these thousand dollar devices that provide access to everything in our lives.

They should be covered in a durable and easily replaceable cover.

You have to because they make the Pro devices _intentionally_ slippery. I'm convinced it is to make the items feel "precious".

I prefer when the device itself is durable and easily repairable

Even if the device is durable and easily repairable it makes no sense to exercise those features. Those features are basically like insurance.

Yeah, I mean, that’s ideal right? Expensive and durable materials covered with cheap, somewhat-durable, and trivially replaceable cases to absorb wear and greatly extend the lifespan of the expensive part.

Yeah, this way you get to have a 5 years old smartphone in pristine condition that is worth less than 30% of its initial value.

All that for the low price of being constantly annoyed by the bulkiness and unwieldiness of a case that will cost up to 5% of the price of the device itself if you want to keep it in decent condition.

It's like the concept of insurance, it's a scam. A good scam, but still.