Besides, I'd rather that my stolen phone is useful to someone (even if not me) then thrown away by me after a year. As long as the software made sure nothing of my data is recoverable.
No, I'm sorry but this tactic is nothing but anti-consumer and anti-green.
There are, of course less anti-consumer options than requiring active first-party involvement in any parts replacement. One would be keeping a registry of stolen phones and having the OS phone home after detecting a new part. Of course, that would cost Apple a bit of money (I think they can afford it) and only work with a locked-down OS (not to my taste, but I see no signs of Apple changing it), but it serves the legitimate goal of disincentivizing iPhone theft without raising the barrier to repair and creating extra e-waste.
Thing I was trying to say is they are using "theft" as a way to "build in" planned obsolescence and preventing us from repairing things.