Related: All bootloaders should be unlockable if the device owner opts to do that. Manufacturers/carriers should not be involved in that process at all.
Hope this does change again soon. Was hoping to get a zenfone 10 for black Friday but with this decision and S23s being around the same or at a lower price on some deals there's no reason to go Asus.
I've been waiting to unlock my zenfone 9 for around 6 months now, still holding out hope for the unlock servi e to be available by the end if the year, but honestly not expecting anything to happen. It so sad too, as this phone is nearly perfect for me outside of not being unlockable (currently(?))