The hard disk was a few weeks ago and the support call just last year. Pretty sure they still do that. Also they’re pushing hard on this device longevity thing, as being an environmental as well as customer satisfaction issue. Then there’s the dramatic improvement in performance in iOS 12 for older devices.

They’re not perfect sure. The Touch Bar is a bit meh, the new style keyboards had issues, but these were misjudgements not deliberately user hostile moves. In fact they spent big developing those things.

It is quite rational for current management of Apple to monetize this goodwill, maximize share price and their bonuses because who cares about tomorrow? Or actually insider's behavior of this kind is a a leading indicator of what the future may bring.

So they must follow a "Get Right Up To The Creepy Line And Not Cross It" strategy. They'll cross as sales of iPhones drop. (I have a 6 year PC, works perfectly fine. )