The full repair only policy while actively trying to prevent third party repair services is a problem, as then you are preventing people from being able to repair only actual problems just because Apple wants to control its image, and you run into situations like this. Who cares if water indicators are tripped? There should be an options for someone to repair what's needed, and deal with further problems later if they crop up. Apple doesn't want to allow this.
> He also did hint at other repair shops in the end by saying that there were no other options "in terms of fixing it in the store".
That's not hinting at other options, that's just not outright lying when asked a direct question, which ends up revealing another option. That's a low bar to hit (and thankfully he did).
This seems like a defense of the individual "Genius," since they can point at corporate/policy, rather than a defense of the policy itself which is what the video is about.