Apple is definitely a shining example of a company that actively supports its customers to put off obselescence as long as possible (not that this interferes with their profit margin of course). You'll notice many of their deals, both with carriers and publishers, are such that it benefits the customer, not the carrier/publisher. I've seen quotes like "a good way to ruin a great device is to give it to let a carrier manage it". As for the contract running out, paying out the early termination fee is a cost/benefit calculation. Paying $200 to get out of a contract is a matter of financial feasibility for a person, and, at least in Canada, the contract is more for the monthly plan, not the device itself (i.e., you can buy a new device almost any time and keep the same plan, but you'll pay near full price for the device).