I've heard this argument before but it seems quite frankly so ridiculous I cannot credit the idea that Apple is so thunderously stupid as to believe it.

Virtually nobody pays much attention to how other peoples phone functions and if they say a dim display they would probably assume their battery was dying not that apple sucks.

If we go back to the auto industry I seem to recall them wanting to force people to get oem service/parts to maintain their warranty not to "protect their brand", a phrase which almost always precedes nonsense, but out of simple greed.

Greed is always always the simple answer in life. People that think their position is strong are always more willing to grasp at a few more pennies.