For what it's worth, this is entirely a carrier problem and has little to do with the technology.

Various people and the article have outlined some bad experiences but to give a contrasting example: Digital Republic, a local MVNO here in Switzerland, allows you to replace your eSIM by simply logging into their web portal with TOTP-based 2FA and clicking a button. No SMS, no contact with support, no reidentification.

In theory, all carriers could do this.

The flaw with the technology is that it is designed so you need the co-operation of your carrier, when previously you did not. Indeed, for the first versions moving a sim profile could not even be initiated independently by a user, but required them to contact support. Now there is the "device change" protocol which can be triggered by an app on the phone, but I think it still requires the co-operation of carrier servers.

I only have experience with two carriers in NL and they’re the exact opposite.

No QR code, only an iOS app which needs to be installed on the phone using the plan. My mum was visiting from abroad once and I had to download the app on her phone — which required me to first log into the App Store with my Dutch account.

Another app that could have been a QR code.