Well, even better then. You see, there are people complaining that this battery cannot be replaced, when you just told us that you can buy one for $23 and replace it in five minutes
It's easy if you have the right tools.
Apple replaced the normal Phillips head screws with the pentalobe screws.
Not something you can go to your local hardware store an pick up.
Also not as easy as replacing a battery in a phone designed with that purpose in mind though and not something you can do when out and about.
There is a risk of damage to the back cover or the internal board if you're not careful.
It will always be cheaper to repair it yourself then getting someone else to do it for you. Same thing here. Another reason why its much cheaper to build your own computer then an OEM. But what your paying extra for is support & warranty. All parts and labour is guaranteed. Is that vendor going to make things right if the battery does not work or catches fire and destroys your phone?
The battery I purchased came with a 1 year warranty against defects or failure.
This is one case where I really don't think I agree with you (in general I find you are on point). You walk into a retailer and want a replacement battery for your smartphone (those that DO allow battery swapping on the fly) and you are still going to pay $50-$60 for it. If you know where to look (online, of course), they can be had for much cheaper. On the same token, you could go to a repair kiosk in the mall and likely pay much less than what Apple charges you to swap a battery. It's all in how you look at it I guess.
True.
It depends on the phone and the retailer. Most batteries are pretty inexpensive now.
An example, GS3 batteries (genuine units with the NFC antennae built in) are $25 on Amazon. The Verizon store sells them for $40.
They used to be nearly double that when the phone was released.
My wife carries a spare battery for her GS3 as she doesn't always have access to a charger. She rarely has to use it, but it does offer some piece of mind.