@IGZO I’m with you! This does sound like a stupid design choice by Phonak.
I started my own rant about a similar (but different) shortcoming with ReSound (ReSound Streaming Rant) and I also felt some of the replies were defending the manufacturer. Must be a variation of the Stockholm syndrom 
But more seriously, I think you are correct: HA wearers tend to be less tech-savvy and may not recognize poor design when they encounter it. So the manufacturer gets very little feedback.
And the manufacturer mostly cares about Audiologists since they steer the purchasing decision.
I started my rant with the same intention as what you mentioned: get more people to actually complain until the manufacturer wakes up. I give it maybe a 10% change of success, but that’s still better than nothing 