You're right. That's why neither iMessage nor FaceTime use encryption in china. Because they don't care.

Oh wait, Apple still uses into end encryption in China for both of those so that the Government Camp spy on people.

Getting rid of VPN apps is part of staying in China. So the question you have to ask is which is better for Apple to do: stay trying out without VPNs but keeping their consumer products encrypted whenever possible, or keep VPNs in the store and get all their products kicked out of the country.

If Apple gets kicked out, the no one gets to use VPNs on their iPhones. They don't get to use iPhones at all. They lose the encryption of iMessage in FaceTime.

(and the board may not let them pull out of China to anyway)