There is no value to consumer in the option for 3.5mm jack not existing on their phone. The phones are not thinner, they are not cheaper, and they do not have better battery life. A phone with 3.5mm will do Bluetooth just as well.
So on what grounds is this decision defended? Whatever the portion of audience that benefits from it, what is the motivation from those who don't need the jack to so gleefully deny it to those who do need the jack?
I can list any number of reasons for why 3.5 jack makes my family's life easier - but why do I have to? Given it doesn't cost you anything, why not give it to me?
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Reason why I like the option for 3.5 headphones and headset even though I don't always use it
Cheap quality headsets. I do hours of concalls and lots of travel. I have cheap wired headsets everywhere - at home, in office, in car, in backpack. They all sound better, on average, than any Bluetooth because they sound great always. Sooner or later any participant with Bluetooth will go digital or wonky and delay us all while hey reconnect or just remove the darn thing. They are just never 100% reliable to those who have to listen to you, even if you believe their convenience is worth it (and if they don't have a boom they pick up much too much extraneous noise - again which may not bother you but is certainly annoying to others) I can borrow anybody's wired headset and it'll just work instantly. I can change headsets easily and switch them between phones and tablets and other devices. I can purchase one cheaply and quickly if I loose or forgot mine. I can lend it to others with equal ease.
And oh yes the idea of dongles or inability to charge while talking is just ridiculous - apple never understood business users, with headphones on bottom next to charger that they kept moving even while they supported it - so you couldn't easily use it with a basic dock. The iOS not showing mute on same screen as keypad further shows basic misunderstanding of professional use case... But i digress