It had been in the works for a while, but now it has formally been adopted. From the article:
The regulation provides that by 2027 portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end-user, leaving sufficient time for operators to adapt the design of their products to this requirement.
I didn’t say there weren’t any shops but the cheapest battery job is $60. I’m not even making a strawman argument you’re doing that. Lots of folks would save $30 if they could. Lots of folks are too busy or lazy to go to a shop. I’ve known lots of iPhone users who have failing batteries and they just suffer through an unreliable phone until they have money for a replacement. This would definitely help those people.
The argument that user replaceable batteries forces phones to be significantly bulkier or uglier is just unfounded, companies could easily engineer solutions that are both thin and look good. I had a Galaxy S5 that was waterproof and reasonably thin.
Bullshit. Gimme a general location and I’ll find a local shop to replace batteries for far less than $60.
So you know idiots? If they are dumb enough to 'save for a replacement ’ while a cheap repair is available what makes you think they are going to take the time to figure out there batteries? You’re pissed off with lazy wasteful people, not batteries.