Your analogy would apply if 3rd party car mechanics had a history of installing GPS trackers and hidden microphones.

We decided to punish people criminally who betray our trust in that way in physical space, and that usually works well enough that we can have enough of a trust-based society that we can let someone else have unsupervised access to our car for short periods of time.

For a variety of reasons, that trust has completely broken down with cell carriers and app developers. So we have to resort to a feudal system in which we rely on the local Lord to protect our interests.

I hate it too, but I need someone looking out for my privacy and the security of my mobile device. Apple is the best I can find.