You listed all these extra things you have to do on Andriod just to be able to get a timely update. On iOS it's one step.
And everything I've read these past few weeks says iOS is still smoother and more reliable than Android.
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That's the point you miss. I can solve and fix issues on my Note 5. On my iPhone, I just have to wait. and wait. and hope. I have spent less than a day fixing up the Note 5 to where I have what I want. I have spent far more than that trying to find work-arounds and fixes on my iPhone.
I have a very smooth well functioning Android device - Note 5
I have a not so well working iOS device - 6S+.
Why should I be using the 6S+ as my primary when it doesn't work as well as the Note 5?
You are correct on the iOS versions. My user experience on the iPhone started degrading commencing with iOS7 and has degressed since then through iOS 8 and now iOS9. When my company offers access to Android like we have on iOS now, UNLESS iOS has dramatically improved and fixed the current trend, I'll end up dropping the iPhone. That is regrettable as I have been using iPhones since the 3.