I really don't care if the iPhone is Lightning and not USB-C anymore. Cables cand be found for around $10. Expensive for what it is, but still relatively cheap in the bigger scheme. And I rarely plug in my iPhone at all.
On the iPad the change makes sense because the iPad is more likely to be used like a traditional computer than an iPhone is, so plugging in peripherals, drives, etc. seems more likely.
Granted, I would have loved the iPhone to be the same, but Apple clearly is differentiating the two (they don't even run the same OS anymore).
Plus, given that the Apple keyboard, the trackpad, mouse, headphones, Watch, etc. all use Lightning, you'll always have a cable around.