You’re correct I should have better worded my point: Signal used to be a single all that someone could install that could handle sending out their regular unencrypted SMS messages and Signal encrypted messages.

Signal also did exactly what you’ve described - auto-enabled encryption when it detected another signal user by phone number.

The net result was more people using encrypted messaging.

Yeah but I’m still mad about their decision to drop SMS/MMS.

Wonderful app, great handling of signal to signal messaging, but it really took away my ability to sell end to encryption to friends and family.