> because what bothers them is the criticism itself

I think there's a difference between criticism of a policy and being brigaded by a reddit mob.

Google pushes a new feature to Android where phones wake up at 2:22 AM every night to play a blood-curdling scream at maximum volume, regardless of settings. An issue is created and gets assigned, into which Google employees regularly butt in to explain the feature exists to keep users safe from night break-ins. Nothing changes. People have to start modifying their lives around this problem—most have to shut off their phones during the night, many had to buy a separate alarm clock—and masses of disappointed customers eventually make their way to the bug tracker to voice their concern. The issue gets locked as "too heated".

Apple has had this feature for three years on iOS. What else should they have done?