What do you mean? This is what they’re doing. “Switch to [carrier name] and get the iPhone 16 Pro on us!” Then it’s explained that it’s all statement credit to cover the purchase price over X months.

There's two ways "statement credits" can work (which is a little confusing).

A. Pay money upfront and get a discount every month.

B. Pay nothing upfront but the service is full price. (This is what I see on the T-Mobile site.)

My point is that many people prefer B even if the total cost is higher.

Right. I know of no consumer products that are sold using way “A” as you describe it.

Google Fi apparently because Google always has to be different.

Holy shit is that how that works? To be fair, it does say $500 back over 24 monthly bill credits, so it’s not overly misleading.

Not trying to move goal posts though. You’re right about that one and it’s pretty shitty.