Yeah I'm sure there will be cheap aftermarket alternatives to the Apple branded accessories, but it would be nice not to have to need an additional purchase for the common use case of just tying the thing to something. It also seems a bit wasteful
Just imagine the sheer amount of non recyclable plastic this "design choice" by Apple to offer an un-holed product will generate. This world has a major problem.
You can create the holder from any biodegradable materials, leather or cardboard etc. No need to use "non-recyclable plastic".
But that’s precisely what all these Chinese marketplaces won’t offer.
No one is forcing you to buy the holder from China.
You can go to your local artisan and ask them to craft it from any material you choose. It's not a complicated form to create a slot for.
I don't see this ever being relevant on the scale of plastic pollution; people will buy a few and use them for years. For example, is the world being overwhelmed with smartphone cases?