Had a big discussion with a fanboy friend today about this. As usual, he defended it in every way he could come up with... including saying that changing the battery out was "simple" (in comparison to say, an LG V20).

iPhones could smell like rotting fish, electrocute you every 3rd click, and be made from the bones of dead children... their loyalist fans will still line up for them and still defend them around every turn.