lack of local accounting means its no longer your operating system, youre now using a perpetually required service from microsoft.
the walled garden is putting the last bricks in place. hope all you windows fans are ...happy... asking apple microsoft for permission to use your own hardware.
You can still block it easily with the command prompt (Shift+F10 during the install) as mentioned. But don't let that stop you from switching to Linux if you feel like it.
But apparently you DO need an Apple ID to access an Apple Notes file that was shared to your Android by your crazy ex who doesn't know that without an iPhone you won't be able to read their undoubtedly unhinged, rambling guilt trip. Thanks Apple!
Sure it could, but I think Apple makes so much on overcharging for the machine itself they don't need to be so aggressive over data collection just logically.
Sadly I think they have to aim to do both, to make the most money as a publically traded company.
Last I heard Apple was protecting it's users from Facebook collecting their data.. by being the ones who collect it instead. Maybe that not quite right as I don't listen to news on Apple (outside of their opposition to right to repair).
We would have that freedom with Android too if those stupid banking apps stopped trying to dictate what you can run on your hardware & Google giving them more features to do so.