Capitalist view: If they didn't emphasize it, some first-time Apple customers might be convinced by concerned friends and family to enable Lockdown Mode by default, and then might complain to Apple / return their device because it "doesn't do the things it was advertised to do" (because those features don't work in Lockdown Mode.)
Realpolitik view: repressive regimes probably only allow Apple to release devices with this feature available, as long as they don't heavily push it / make it the default. If Lockdown Mode defaulted to "on" in China, and so was used by the majority of users, then Apple would be quickly booted out of China.
Yes, this is the angle I've been trying to capture. Its realpolitik, thank you for helping crystalize that. But I maintain that it extends to the US as well in terms of cooperation with domestic enforcement bodies.
How about the alternative capitalist view that they don't have to spend as much time on QA in lockdown mode? Seems like one of those things that could cause all kinds of unintentrd consequences across apps.
Realpolitik view: repressive regimes probably only allow Apple to release devices with this feature available, as long as they don't heavily push it / make it the default. If Lockdown Mode defaulted to "on" in China, and so was used by the majority of users, then Apple would be quickly booted out of China.