My parents are nobodies with just their phone that they share. Their friends, also seniors and predominantly with one device, are nobodies as well. Why should their stuff be blocked? Because they don't give a gd if it goes elsewhere. In fact, they seem most comfortable with the idea that their stuff is consolidated in one physical thing they understand and not wandering beyond their view or control. There are people like that, they are valid, their desires can be designed for and served, and they will pay money for that. They are not nobodies.

It's also like saying: some people don't want to think about syncing.

I have a feeling that's the reasoning, more than anything else. It removes a piece of complexity with a very specific, conscious trade-off.

That said, I use syncing to Dropbox religiously with my notes app, so that's a dealbreaker for me.