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> Apple set up a page years ago that lets you manually disable iMessage to avoid this issue.

Exactly, why is a page needed in the first place? I'd bet more than 99% of users don't even have a clue that exists or even know about the underlying problem.

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The page is needed because Apple has no way of knowing whether you have turned your iPhone off for a couple of days or whether you’ve switched away permanently. It isn’t necessary if you do a factory reset of the phone, which also covers a lot of bases.

Because of the way iMessage is designed though, it just happens to benefit them by making any other platform look broken if you don't do these steps. They worked with the mobile companies to get visual voicemail support, why not for this?

How many regular users do neither of these things and just shove their old phone in a drawer or let their kid watch YouTube on it?

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