> They want the ability to make modifications, and they want the freedom and transparency that open-source gives them

Do they really? iOS isn’t just not open source because we don’t have the source.

It’s also not open source because it isn’t developed in the open or intended for a community to work with.

It seems like the thing you are saying people want just isn’t real.

This isn’t to say you are wrong - but if you are right, it just means the people who are buying these phones don’t just don’t understand open source.