Mixed feelings on this, on the one hand, if Apple has indeed made a conscious and deliberate decision to brick certain functionality for no other reason than to force users to take up Applecare etc, not cool. But on the other hand perhaps this is a way of them forcing independent repair shops to become accredited with Apple and in turn improve the quality of repairs. I’ve taken a couple of iPhones into independent repair shops in the past, both times the clowns did a terrible job and seemed to be using poor quality parts. I now always get Applecare.