" it's not $99 for a replacement battery."

OK. "Apple offers a battery service for $79, plus $6.95 shipping, subject to local tax."

$99 vs. $85.95 doesn't change much.

And, just to make if completely fair, let's compare with the most expensive option - an OEM Samsung battery from Verizon is $40, still less than 1/2 the cost.

And before you argue this - sure, some people have the skill to tear apart their iPhone and replace it themselves. Perhaps even many people on /. But, most people wouldn't even consider it. Plus, the battery itself is still more expensive and then you have to go through the time and effort.

"You're assuming that I'm conflating counterfeit with legitimate 3rd party... I didn't know Anker (whom is a respectable brand) made cellphone batteries at such a price. "

I assumed nothing. These are your own words:
"You paid for, and trust a counterfeit battery?!... At best, a Samsung S4 battery will use a generic 1500mAh cell with filter material to fake a real one that's rated for 1800mAh."

I purchased the battery from AnkerDirect, fulfilled by Amazon. Not much opportunity for a counterfeit to get into that distribution channel. 2600 mAh (not 1800), just like the original Samsung. Capacity is actually better than the OEM (and more than 2600), as determined by Battery Monitor Widget. Anker's S3/S4/S5 batteries are all basically the same $12 price. The S4 one was about $15 a year ago.

Perhaps your epithet "a colossal glittering jewel of ignorance" should be directed toward a mirror.

I was saying something to the effect that you're an idiot, and have no clue what "counterfeit" means.

"Counterfeit" doesn't mean what you think it means.

Need vs. want. The OP said he'd trade a bit more thickness for more battery life. Nothing you've said is an argument against that.

"But they are efficient enough for most people."

In my experience, most people don't have/use them, and most people rely on the battery in their phone. It's not clear where your claim comes from - do most people you know have them?

"battery booster packs."

Uh, no. Those things are inefficient. They have to convert the voltage of their own battery to 5V, output to USB, then the phone has to convert that to the battery charging voltage. So, for the same increase in functional capacity, the battery in them has to be much bigger. Plus, they add more than "just a few mm" in thickness, there's even more casing surrounding a separate battery. Then there's the USB plug getting in the way. Plus dealing with disconnecting/removing all that before you can use a proper car dock.

(I assume you're talking about the ones for phones without replaceable batteries, since that's the basis for this thread)

I bought a battery for my S4 for $12 shipped. Every bit as good as the OEM. I carry the charged original in my backpack as a spare, no need to find a power source for an immediate "recharge." When the one in use stops holding a full charge, I'll buy another $12 replacement. I could have bought insurance from Verizon if I wanted - but I take care of my phones and over 25 years have never broken or lost one, so I'm still ahead even if I have to buy one at full retail someday in the future.

It looks like AppleCare+ is $99, and only covers out to 2 years (and another $79 if the phone is replaced due to damage). Are iPhones really so unreliable that that presents value?

$12 battery shipped to my home which I can easily replace in less than a minute myself, or $99 and a trip to the store. I'd say I have a better level of service than you - less expensive, too.

So, how many connections will feed into this CoLo you mention? And, do you have a study which compares the cost of running all those home runs to simply aggregating traffic on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis?

"Neither of those professions require specialized drivers licenses"

No, they don't spend "just as many hours on the road." Both involve trips ancillary to the principal occupation, so the amount of driving is less. Neither of them involve the carriage of strangers for money.

Would you suggest that other forms of commercial driver's license are also unnecessary, such as those required for driving a passenger bus or hauling hazardous materials?

The Internet is the content (data/message/letter). The network is the transport (medium/postal service).

Someday, you may understand the difference.

And, there's a difference between "internet" and "Internet."

Medium vs. message. Seems like a pretty clear distinction.

Is there a reason this can't extend down to HF?

Bets on how long until an NSA apologist like Mike Rogers or Peter King issues a "blame the messenger" (Snowden) statement?

I think Dr. Suess has a claim to that style of invention:

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat!
And I would eat them with a goat...
And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so goodm so goodm you see!

So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!