> Another consequence of thinner phones is less protection. Drop your phone once, and the chances you shatter the screen are high.
How does thinness decrease screen protection? On the contrary a reduction in thickness also usually involves a reduction in weight, which decreases the impact force from a drop.
Personally, I'm fine with protection through external, replaceable accessories. No matter how sturdy, scratches on the screen are inevitable. With a glass screen protector, you can throw your $500+ device around carelessly, and replace the $15 protection after a few years or if it breaks.