Maps, Uber, WhatsApp, Spotify, Apple Music. How is that a "dump phone"? Just uninstall unnecessary crap and you get the same thing.

The subscription is for the phone service. Though it is true that you can only use this with their service.

So much in modern day consumerism is about "lifestyle" and signaling the lifestyle (to you and others). if you're not paying a sub for your lifestyle, are you really following that lifestyle?