It’s actually not as large and bulky as you might think. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive is the thing. My old work phone was a Samsung XCover. They have replaceable batteries and are waterproof.

They’re a little bulkier than my 16 Pro, but not by that much, and the bulk isn’t really for waterproofing reasons alone.

Seal the phone and leave the battery compartment just weather proof. You’ll still be able to drop the phone in the toilet or whatever and the phone will be basically identical except with a slide off back. We’ve done it before, it’s not impossible.

Again, the idea that having devices be user serviceable leads to them needing to be designed to not be dust or waterproof is just a lie sold to us by the manufacturers. They could make our devices user serviceable, but they choose not to. Every time they’ve been coaxed into even a little bit of consumer friendliness, they oblige in the most malicious ways they can.

What I’m saying is, you don’t need to play the Devil’s Advocate. His position isn’t based on reality.