I do know a few people close to me (wife being one of them) who have a tough time with the bundled Apple EarPods always falling out, with little movement. They're both getting the AirPods as they're curious if it'll improve without the wire tugging on them. I have seen someone who couldn't use EarPods due to them falling out being able to keep AirPods in, even when vigorously shaking their head.
When you say it's physically impossible without a clip due to the shape of the ear, are you referring to yourself or everyone in general? I don't think the assumption holds if you assume the same for everyone.
I don't BUY your argument and defense of the Airpods on that. First off, the Earpods and Airpods are EXACTLY the same shape. If they couldn't put it on originally, then the new ones won't. It's NOT the Airpod design shape but rather the persons' ears. Everyones' ears are different.
I'm hard of hearing and wear one hearing aid on my left side while the right side is profoundly deaf. I experimented with the Earpod that came with my SE model and it did not fit in my ear. Why? Simple. My ear was accustomed to the hearing aid mold and every time I put on the Earpod, there wasn't much security in the way it stayed in.
The 'in the ear' earphones won't work for me so I've had to use the Sennheiser open air headphones, wired of course for better quality, and listen to my music. I switch to the telecoil mode on my hearing aid for 'uncompressed' sound, blocking out the background noise, and it's so much better. I don't make voice calls but rely on text, email or Skyping with unlimited data.
Apple designed many of their products to be ACCESSIBLE to the general public, but the Airpods are a DESIGN. FAILURE. I'm aware that there are BT hearing aids designed for the iphone but I wouldn't bother getting that due to the flaw that the hearing aids are controlled by the phone itself which is pretty stupid, and one would have to recharge the BT batteries.
People keep forgetting that BT has limitations on how long it would last on a charge. That's why I liked the wired headphones that don't require anything else.
Apple user with Airpods making a 3 hour call on top of listening to music for the previous 2 hours: Blah blah blah oh, can I return the call to you? I have to recharge my Airpods. Bye!
(user recharges)
Another call: Blah blah blah blah blah. Oh drat! Gotta hang up and recharge my Airpods again.
Another thing. The use of saying " Hey Siri " over and over in order to utter a command with the Airpods is ridiculous. I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to appear annoying out there doing that. So my point is that, I know deaf people use iphones to communicate via text or use an equivalent of FaceTime, but those who are hard of hearing that rely on their hearing aids to talk on the phone will have a hard time using the Airpods.
Do you realize Apple just opened a Pandora's Box of more behavioral problems using Airpods? Almost 10 years ago, it was the rude customers yakking away on their phones while making orders at Starbucks ( I know this for a fact. Used to work for them. I've seen a guy blab away at thin air while working behind the counter until he turned his head and I realized he was talking with an ear piece. ). It was a plague of an issue. Now look at Airpods. That sense of people lining up to buy that is a prelude to that 'need' of showing off. Apple needs to put out a disclaimer to customers not to use them in certain situations for safety AND matters of etiquette.
BUT, if you use that for driving hands free. That's fine. I can totally see that reason based on 'hands free' driving laws.
And the need to have TWO Airpods on both ears is overkill. I would NOT recommend using both Airpods in public when walking or running, or loud areas.
