They can, but you can separate the device from the battery in case of recalls, thus preventing natural resource waste.
Also, my Galaxy Note 1 battery blew up on me because I used a cheap charger. I simply took it out, disposed of it at a city waste center, and put in a new battery for 15€. Try this with a "closed" phone. Either you can do it yourself, which requires at minimum 3h time + specialized equipment (e.g. regulated hot air gun), or pay 100€+ to a service center.
I can't speak for the Galaxy Note, but when I replaced the battery on my iPhone, it took me perhaps twenty minutes with minimal tools (screwdrivers, suction cup, plastic "spudger" -- all supplied with the battery) and no prior experience. Could probably do it in half the time with practice.
When I took out my Samsung Note 2 battery it took me perhaps ten seconds with no practice either. Twenty minutes for replacing a component they know is going to wear out the quickest of all components is long and a dick move by the company.
To give some perspective, this was for a phone that was around 4 years old, and which had been sitting in a box fully discharged for a while, destroying the original battery.
Twenty minutes of work over four years is not a big deal.
Also, my Galaxy Note 1 battery blew up on me because I used a cheap charger. I simply took it out, disposed of it at a city waste center, and put in a new battery for 15€. Try this with a "closed" phone. Either you can do it yourself, which requires at minimum 3h time + specialized equipment (e.g. regulated hot air gun), or pay 100€+ to a service center.
Thanks but no thanks to fixed batteries.