alt Hacker NewsGoogle's digital ecosystem doesn't doctrinally prevent owners from installing software or reflashing bricked hardware. Their OEM might, but iOS is the only smartphone ecosystem I've seen that enforces it universally.
But hey, at least Apple's universal lockout capability is able to deter theft! Every non-negotiable backdoor has a silver lining.
I feel like you're conflating three things -- software installation, account closure and disabled hardware.
Software installation has nothing to do with account closure, so I don't know why you're bringing it up.
Account closure doesn't disable your devices. You can set them up with a new account.
And if devices are disabled due to theft and can't be reflashed for sale on the black market, that is a good thing. I haven't heard any reports of people's legitimately purchased devices being disabled due to theft.
Clearly you have things you don't like about Apple, but I don't see what they have to do with the subject at hand, which is account closure.