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In the Messages app preferences, you turn off the big switch that enables iMessage. No need to deregister or anything. Just flip the switch. The deregister process mentioned here is intended for leaving the iOS ecosystem so that messages will find you properly.

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So, any time I want to send an SMS message to an iOS user, I need to turn off iMessage globally (affecting all message to/from all contacts). This isn't a practical option.

I think that's why GGP's comment ("Apple's approach is they have essentially hijacked the SMS protocol") is justified. If you want to use any iMessage functionality, you surrender your ability to send SMS to iOS users.

I'm pretty sure that the number of users actually wanting to send an SMS rather than an iMessage to their fellow iOS-equipped friends is very, very small. I can't even think of a fitting use case.

It surely doesn't warrant a per-message-toggle and a global setting seems reasonable in my opinion.

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