Thanks for your very detailed comment. I'm not sure what you mean about a "faux" lens setting, but of course the smartphone will have its drawbacks over a DSLR. You are stuck with a fixed phone lens and the sensor is a lot smaller. With a DSLR, you can use any lens you want. Raw is captured always anyway. It's just that if you choose jpeg, you are telling the camera to decide which detail to throw away. If you use raw, then you arein control. If you are serious about photography and want to be in control of depth of field and resulting bokeh, then by all means buy a DSLR, so that you can control f-stops.

But an app like 645 Pro for the Phone allows you set the speed and fstops in the app. If you want to be taking proper zoomed or macro images, a DSLR with interchangeable lenses is a must. However, if you just want to have fun with your photography while learning along the way, an Phone is fine! It is better quality than my first DSLR! I shoot professionally with my Canon 5D Mark II and also with my iPhone!!