GerfnitAuthor

"Sounds like there were some kinks in the system that needed to be worked out."
Kinks? Nope, it sounds like they didn't test the Legacy feature. Did they create an Apple ID for a fictitious person, load up an iPhone with photos and stuff, add a Legacy contact, and then pretend the Apple ID owner has passed? Evidently not, or this "kink" (essential bug) would have been discovered. I always wait for a dot release or two before moving to a newer MacOS exactly for this reason. My faith in Apple getting it right the first time is on a downward trajectory.

Imagine if, for a monthly fee, you got an iPhone to use that's no more than two years old, 50GB of iCloud, plus a replacement if it stops working at no additional cost? No worry about AppleCare or replacement charges because you don't own it. You're renting the device. And you can get a newer model if you see fit (perhaps for an upgrade fee if sooner than two years). You'd always have the latest and peace of mind that you'll never pay to have the phone repaired. Sounds good to me.

Everyone wants to score $ for intellectual property, including universities. My former employer went after companies that violated our patents, but usually ended up with cross-licensing agreements, not money.