[briandon]

And easily physically removable batteries, which used to be the norm and are still available for some devices (like the Nokia C30).

It isn't mere coincidence that device manufacturers have made it impossible to power off mobile phones (short of refusing to charge a device) and impossible to positively disconnect ripe-for-abuse subsystems like the microphone(s) or cameras at the same time that governments and other entities are using them as tracking devices.

[freedomben]

Are you suggesting widespread conspiracy between governments and tech companies?

I'm strongly in favor of physical switches and I detest where technology is nowadays, but it seems pretty likely to me that they removed the physical switches because:

1. It simplifies (cheapens) production costs

2. It eliminates points of failure

3. It reduces user error opportunities

4. It makes it easier to waterproof devices

5. It makes it easier to make devices smaller

And surely others that don't require a major conspiracy.

[weberer]

Widespread conspiracy between governments and tech companies has already been proven.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRISM

[devsda]

There may not be an outright conspiracy, but I will not be surprised if OEMs are discouraged from (re)introducing physical switches on popular and mass market devices.