Comment by chaboud

This seems like it's for a trade-up/upgrade program, which would traditionally be:

1) Customer boxes up device.

2) Customer mails device to manufacturer.

3) Manufacturer hits it with a hammer, ensuring that they don't have to compete with their own used device after the customer has been given a credit for it.

So, instead, we have:

A) Customer starts bricking process.

B) Customer recycles device locally.

C) Local electronics recycler hits device with a hammer because it has self bricked, ensuring that the manufacturer doesn't have to compete with their own used device after the customer has been given a credit for it.

So we've removed disposable packaging and fuel for shipping. It seems like a net win for the environment.

They're going to do their trade in program. They can either do it the traditional way or do it this way, having a slightly lower adverse environmental impact. Leaving the device functional is not on the menu, and acting like it is is intentionally obtuse.