Good point. Thx.

Sure, but between the SE2020 and the SE2022 was the iPhone 12 line-up which included the 12 Mini

When the SE2022 came out, most people preferring smaller iPhones were already using either an SE or a mini, and the SE2022 didn’t offer much compelling reasons to upgrade from an SE2020. The SE2020, on the other hand, launched before the first mini, and after four years of waiting since the SE1.

And in Germany, the iPhone 16e 128GB in white currently sells for €537 at "Netto Marken-Discount", a supermarket chain famous for its low price. "Marken-Discount" = "brand name rebates"

Small phones (to an extent) are less expensive than larger phones to manufacture.

The thought that "Small phones are only more popular because they're less expensive" seems to willfully ignore that the phones are less expensive because their inputs are less expensive, because they're smaller.

IMO the e series is/could be used as an anchor to ratchet other phones higher in price.