> People still seethe about this decision even though Apple sells an excellent DAC for $9.99
Gee, I wonder why people are still mad that a change obviously intended to milk the users due money means they have to pay more money. Must be just because they hate change.
Maybe that's why. Personally I think it was multi faceted. More hardware sales, thinner and more waterproof device (allegedly, I don't know), and getting rid of a pesky universal and simple standard for something they can make work way better with their walled garden offerings than this parties can. This gives them way more control. Wins all around