The spec allows carriers to disallow removal of an eSIM, to allow for subsidized phone business models (in other words: this change was demanded by the carriers). So you should blame the carrier, not the manufacturer that simply implements the spec.

It might be nice if manufacturers implement a HUUGE LOUD warning when enabling an eSIM that requires carrier authorization to remove though. Someone should put that in the Android bug tracker.

> The spec allows carriers to disallow removal of an eSIM, to allow for subsidized phone business models (in other words: this change was demanded by the carriers). So you should blame the carrier, not the manufacturer that simply implements the spec.

Gosh, that sounds pretty nuts if some $5 throwaway travel eSIM refused to be removed after a few days of use.

Did "blaming the carrier" ever work for you when they were abusing you as a customer?

It's manufacturers (cough Apple) removing the option to use more user-friendly SIMs that don't give the carriers this lever of control.