Ah. I see. I only came in here to correct the statements about ownership. It matters to me that HN is not the kind of place where people think they own their iPhones - after all the news about software patents, free software, mobile platforms, etc, I think it's an important distinction to make on this site. The people here care (obviously, hence this debate) about this issue and I just wanted the definitions to be set right: jailbreaking != ownership.

As to why it's good or bad, that's entirely personal preference. For me, I want to own it because I want the option to change it. That's all. Therefore, for me, it's terrible to buy a device I don't own. That should answer your question about why it's bad.

Maybe it's not bad for you. Maybe it's good for you to not own the device. That's fine; I'm only here to remind you that you don't own it (after it was erroneously suggested up top that you do own it)

My point is only that, do you feel like you own the other appliances in your home any less, if they had parts that were tougher for you to fix without voiding a warranty?

Or are we only having this discussion because we all here collectively care more about the hackability of electronics?

Ok, you choose what software you run, then along comes the other guy and claims that you don't own your phone unless you control what hardware is running your software.

Some just cannot tell owning and controlling apart.

Do you remember when Amazon deleted books off of peoples' kindles? Remote control of your phone is one obvious way in which Apple owns it and you do not. And the average person might not think they would care but when their copy of 1984 disappears they get angry!

I think it’s necessary to be ever vigilant when companies create an infrastructure for doing just that and to really scream bloody murder when they actually use it. I also can understand people who refuse to buy devices that actually support moves like that (Apple has the capability for remotely removing apps.) It’s a valid reason.

I, however, like to be more pragmatic.

1. As far as I know Apple never used that capability. They removed apps from the store, they never remotely removed apps from devices. (I think Apple claims that they only want to use this capability for removing maleware. Now, you might not believe them but their track record is pretty clean in that regard.)

2. Shitstorms will make anyone with such a capability think long and hard about actually using it. (I think Amazon at least apologized for what happened, I don’t know what else they did for the customers who lost their copies.) Apple can’t just treat their customers like crap.

It’s right to be vigilant about theoretical capability but I don’t think I’m completely irresponsible when I recognize factors that will prevent Apple from using their theoretical capability to its full extent.