> I know that nobody should be stretching themselves financially thin for a newer iPhone.

I think people are free to do whatever they want with their money. Is my view an extreme one nowadays?

Sure, I think that he should have the literal freedom to do so, but that does not excuse him or Apple from being roundly criticized and berated for it. Like freedom of speech, your right to say something doesn’t make that thing right.

How do you know he was stretching himself financially? Perhaps he was rich and 1000 euros was not much money to him.

He signed up to a 20 month payment plan?

That's another guy. There are 2 person in the story. The first one throw money out of the window. The second one is the one struggling for money and need the payment plan.

The 20 month person was a different guy

Those were two different people.