They've also done stuff like that with physical sims too. Obviously they couldn't prevent you from taking out the sim card, but carrier locking has been/is a thing.

And there's been times where x phone was only available with y carrier for a while.

Apple always sells their phones unlocked when you buy directly from them. I don’t ever see them ever going back on that.

Lock ins are only a problem if you sign a contract to get your phone costs subsidised. The solution is not physical sims, its stop buying over priced shiney things with a contract just cuz MaBell will give you a "deal". You can almost always get a better deal yourself if you are willing to look for it.

I pay in a year less then most ppl pay for a month of the same exact service, but instead of paying T-Mobile or Verizon $40 I pay $4 for the same amount of data. Instead of buying the latest phone I get a used one that will get updates for the next 3+ years.

I don't see how apple or Verizon or anyone else could really ever make this setup not work for me unless they lobby congress to destroy MVNOs and used phone resale.

Won't happen because then the major carriers will throw a fit.