I don't see how this is related. I'm installing a game with anti cheat software on my computer to improve my experience. This is my choice, my hardware, and is for my own benefit.
It really isn't when you're forced to install the anticheat software to play the game. The corresponding phone analogy would be saying that it's "your choice" to have your pictures scanned for CSAM, because you made the choice to buy apple instead of a pinephone or whatever.
The anti-cheat code is an integral part of an online game. I can choose not to install and play that game if I don't want the anti-cheat code on my computer. I can't choose not to run iOS on an Apple phone. These are not analogous situations.
So you draw the line at hardware/software? Why there? Can you not treat iOS as a bundle of software + hardware?