Mac doesn't require an Apple ID to use. iPhone only needs one for installing apps, and my only complaint is it's the strictest auth check on the entire phone besides disabling the account. Shouldn't need to input the Apple ID password just to install a free app, shouldn't even ask for passcode.

> iPhone only needs one for installing apps

So you can't have Firefox, Organic Maps, good ad blocker, popular chat and video apps and numerous other things without it. Do you consider that normal?

Yes. Considering that Apple created the smartphone as we know it, and it had this limitation from the start, seems normal even though I don't really like it. This wouldn't be acceptable on a PC or tablet (hence why iPads suck).

An iPhone without an Apple account is about as useful as brick because you can't load your own software onto it without the store.

You can if you have the source code, but I think that requires at least signing with a free account.

Setting up an iPad was rather obnoxious on this front, though. So, fundamentally, it is still very similar.