I think you forgot something.. "until proven otherwise" Do not trust these companies too much, they are not to be trusted.

There is a reasonable middle ground, but all of Big Tech has gone way beyond that, Apple included.

well, depend on your perspective. I live in Poland, former USSR, now right wing catholic totalitarian state. Privacy for me it means against state procescutors which right now in Poland are near nazi-germany esque. That means apple is useless for me as probalby they work with 'abw' - polish NSA. Also whole cerberus from Israeli secret services

If people in USA want privacy against advertisers - only democratic gov can ger lats to provide that

two different things