Other manufacturers did/do parts pairing as well.

Apple also removed a couple of roadblocks for third party parts and you can pair replacement parts on device now.

Is it perfect? No. My point is simply that most other major smartphone manufacturers are no better (remember Google’s Pixel 4a battery performance program?). But around these parts people seem to be prejudiced and maybe have outdated information. I just feel like it’s more of a “pick your poison” instead of a “grass is greener on the other side”.