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The only thing laughable is your stance, Xed, which basically just defends the status quo, hence "Cupertino Worshipper" would appear a fitting category for you.

Even more laughable is your lack of knowledge that this has been talked about for a very long time by people far more influential in tech than me.  John Gruber had this to say way back in 2018 about that paltry 5GB:
https://daringfireball.net/linked/2018/08/01/iphone-x-snell

End users have asked for 5GB "per device" even on Apple's own forum:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3893391?sortBy=rank

Back in 2021 9to5Mac asked if Apple would every increase the base storage:
https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/02/a-decade-of-5-gb-free-will-apple-ever-increase-base-icloud-storage/

So there's really nothing further I need to add.  Your single vote as a Cupertino Status Quo Worshipper is outnumbered by sensible users.  Even so, you can rejoice that Apple has so far listened to your voice.  Rejoice!  Because your beloved 5GB and only 5GB is here to stay for quite some time into the future.  Be proud!  You surely are pushing humanity forward by posing no threat to the status quo in Cupertino!

And as to Mr. Caknucklehead (who is very appropriately named, by the way), I put forth his knuckleheaded stance to ChatGPT, which had this to say:

Apple markets the 5GB of iCloud storage as "free," but it's not entirely free in the broader sense. Here's why:

1. Cost of Apple Devices: To access iCloud, you need to own an Apple device, which isn't free. Apple's ecosystem is a premium one, with iPhones, iPads, and Macs costing significantly more than many alternatives. iCloud storage is arguably part of the value you're paying for when you buy into the ecosystem.

2. Data Collection: While Apple has a strong stance on privacy compared to some competitors, offering iCloud storage allows Apple to keep users within its ecosystem. This indirect "cost" benefits Apple by creating brand loyalty and discouraging users from switching to competitors.

3. Limited Usability: The 5GB of storage is shared across all your data—backups, photos, documents, and app data—making it insufficient for most users. This scarcity often nudges users toward purchasing paid plans. It's a calculated strategy, not purely a free giveaway.

4. Marketing Hook: The 5GB tier is free, but it's also a way to upsell you on paid plans. The moment you exceed the limit, you need to pay. Apple likely sees this "free" tier as part of its customer acquisition cost.

So, while you don't pay cash upfront for the 5GB, you're "paying" through the cost of the Apple device, the data ecosystem lock-in, and the likelihood of being enticed into a subscription. It’s better described as a limited trial than truly free.

First off, suing Apple over this is stupid.  It should be immediately thrown out of court.  I hate suing of any kind, so it's no surprise I say this.  People in the USA sue way too much.  Take the slap in the face, then turn the other cheek, for crying out loud.  Suing has gotten so bad that "lawfare" has become a word in politics now.  It's totally outrageous and unacceptable.

With that said, no Apple fan in their right mind should defend the status quo on that ridiculously small and pretty much worthless 5GB of storage.  If you do defend 5GB as being all anyone needs, you might as well defend 128K of RAM as being enough because... hey...  In January 1984, Apple said that was good enough!  You Cupertino Worshippers tend to worship whatever is the norm in Cupertino at any given time, so it makes sense you would do that.  

But real thinkers like Jason Snell of Macworld has analyzed the matter very nicely as follows:

Take iCloud storage, for instance. The existing 5GB of cloud storage that’s granted to users for free is insufficient for most users for backup, especially if they have more than one device. I don’t dispute Apple’s need to charge for storage, but a reasonable amount of storage should be supplied for free as a thank-you for purchasing a new Apple device. The 5GB limit causes people to be prompted with scary “failed to backup” errors that immediately turn into a conversion attempt to a larger, paid iCloud storage account. It’s one of the places where it feels like Apple is prioritizing revenue over the user experience. I don’t want to imagine a world where that’s the norm, and my iPhone becomes a device that constantly asks me to pony up for another extra feature because the product wasn’t good enough to begin with.
SOURCE

Snell is 100% right on that.  A "thank you" for buying a new device really is logical and reasonable.  In other articles, Snell has rightfully suggested that if Apple want's to keep the 5GB magic number, go right ahead.  Just give us 5GB for each new device we buy.  So if I buy an iPhone, I get 5GB.  If I buy a Mac, I get another 5GB, bringing it up to 10GB.  If I then buy a third Mac, give me another 5GB.  Maybe impose some limits, but you get the picture.  Right now, you get only 5GB no matter how much Apple stuff you buy, which makes no sense at all.  

And no, Cupertino Worshippers, Apple wouldn't lose a darned dime in doing that because some people would still need more than 10 or 15GB to storage all their photos online, making online backups, etc.  Meaning, people would still buy supplementary iCloud storage.  But people who opt to not buy it could then have enough free storage to do the most basic things.

I myself refuse to pay for iCloud storage.  What I do when that stupid 5GB gets low is turn off things that use it.  Backup?  OFF!  Photos?  OFF!  And then anything else.  Sorry, but I won't be strong-armed into buying storage that I either cannot afford to buy or don't want to buy.

But like I said, even though that stupidly small 5GB pisses me off (mainly because it has never been increased after all these years), I would never sue Apple because that is even more stupid.  Complaining about it, or even screaming about it online thought is perfectly OK.  And sending Apple tons of FEEDBACK about it is also not only OK, but the right thing to do.

I've never used iCloud Keychain nor will I use the new Apple Passwords, and not because I don't want to.  I refuse to enable STUPID 2-Factor Authentication, which is Apple's unfortunate requirement for both.  And no, I could NOT care less if some of you like 2FA and swear by it.  Your personal likes don't magically make me like it, nor will a Master Thesis written about why 2FA should be enabled.  Nope.  I know the benefits, but I refuse to use that bothersome nonsense.

I can use 1Password (standalone version, not the STUPID monthly fee subscription version) without 2FA (I purchased a license for iOS and for my Mac), and I can store the encrypted file in Dropbox, making it available across ALL my devices.  It's the best solution overall and has been for many years.

tiredskills said:

Everyone's a stock market genius.

Most likely written as a jab or joke, it is unfortunate because it only perpetuates the status quo of people being too afraid or too ignorant to ever invest anything.  

It doesn't take genius to invest.  It just takes a little disposable income, and hopefully you put it into something you strongly believe in, then let it grow for a long period of time (hence: "buy and hold").  The so-called "geniuses" often get themselves into trouble when they buy and sell frequently.  That's never been my approach because it carries way too much risk.

I realize why most people don't like to hear the investing experiences of others.  A lot of it sounds like spam or trickery, especially if you have never invested a dime.  But the fact remains that I told my friends and family on FaceBook more than a decade ago they should invest in AAPL.  Wouldn't have taken them much to research the merits of my advice.  Pretty much nobody listened to me. The only people who listened were folks who had already invested in AAPL and knew I was given them the right advice.  It's not like I was advising them to invest in a great deal on property in Death Valley!

Realistically though, this is an online forum, and I know none of you personally.  So it makes sense you will treat good investing advice flippantly or carelessly.  But I take comfort in knowing my kids are recipients of the good advice I give to them, and that makes me feel much more comfortable about their future.  

Do your own homework, and invest in something worthwhile, then buy it and hold it whenever possible.  That's the only advice I'm giving.  Why?  Because it has worked for me.

tundraboy said:

My AAPL holdings are only 33x what I paid for them :-(

You inspired me to check my Fidelity account.  Mine shows 73x.  But even that incredible gain always makes me think what could have been, if I had invested earlier in the 90's, rather than 1999.  My income was low in 1996, being only two years out of college back then.  I didn't think to buy back then.  The upside is I have two college student children right now, and I advise them about investing. So long as you have some disposable income, your never to young to start the tried and true "buy and hold" strategy.