>How is your entire comment not a mere assumption that the issue is within iMessage itself and not other logically possible factors, such as your carrier, your reception, or your mother using her phone incorrectly?

Because it's not an isolated incident. I've heard many people complain about the exact same thing online over the years. Just google it and you will see. Is it rare? Sure. But it's also not uncommon.

You point to "logically possible factors", but I never experienced ANY issues with SMS to SMS on android where a problem would be invisible. With SMS <> iMessage, the problem would be invisible: looks sent from one side, but the other has zero indication of an issue.

And Apple is under no incentive to 'fix' this or guarantee it never happens because they have a blatant interest in everyone using iMessage by getting iphones.

Is this slightly conspiracy theory talk? I agree it borders that. But I also think it's 100% realistic.

>Also, allowing alternative messaging apps to be installed in your OS is exactly the opposite of “flagrant abuse”.

Apple SPECIFICALLY does not open up iMessage to non-Apple platforms because they want you to buy their phones- something they share a duopoly with. That is the very DEFINITION of market abuse.

If Microsoft had some Windows-only messaging platform, most people on this site would be all up in arms about it.