It feels like 50% of "new" features in iOS are just lifting restrictions on existing features.

Being able to place apps wherever you want and finally being able to react with *any* emoji you want, instead of just a subset. Been there, done that.

Apple is actively holding these nice-to-have features back until they have little to show off to convey the sense that they're still innovating.

(That's not to say that their work isn't valuable - #iOS and #MacOS are amazing products.)