Apple (and Microsoft, which I refuse to ever use again) regularly solidify my perspective that they are ultimately hostile to their own users. They work to benefit their own ecosystem, not their users.
At least Google allows (up until this point) user-friendly actions such as sideloading, and implemented a messaging standard(RCS) that actually progressed SMS for the world's users in a secure and relatively interoperable way. Google has other obviously user-unfriendly actions, but for the most part they don't harm their own users when they choose not to participate. (I can use Google's services and still not use Google Search, for example, which is Google's bread and butter.)
In what sane world would Apple not want its users to easily transfer information/files with anyone they would want to, as easily and secure as possible? It's downright hostile and self-serving.
Interesting, as an North American, I'm more aligned with the EU's directive on consumer Protection than the U.S.'s own "protection." But that is modern computing and greed I suppose in 2025...