Apple account control and stolen device protection

Dear community,

I've enabled the stolen device protection feature available since iOS 17.3. With more and more data located behind mobile phone access, I think that adding additional layers of protection is a good idea. But without actually experiencing a loss of access, I have a couple of questions I'm hoping to clarify with you.

Let's start with the assumptions that if someone steals my iPhone, I would be unable to access the trusted device or the trusted phone number. With no other Apple devices in the household, this would mean that I would not be able to log into my Apple account through an external device - however, accessing Find My devices is still possible. Furthermore, even if I was able to log into the account, with the stolen device protection is enabled in the lost iPhone, I would no longer be able to change my Apple account password with any other device.

In practice, if the iPhone and SIM card are stolen and there is no access to any of the trusted devices, what are the step required from the user to (1) access Apple account (if no recovery measures have been enabled in the account) and (2) change the password of the Apple account? And how does the stolen device protection impact this? This is assuming that the Apple account or Apple account password has not been forgotten.

Furthermore, will access and full control over an Apple account - including removing the lost iPhone from trusted devices - always be possible if the trusted phone number is recoverable through the mobile service provider, even if stolen device protection is always enabled? Since the phone number is tied to a personal or corporate mobile subscription in my country, it is not possible to permanently steal the phone number. Therefore, a phone number should always be recoverable by deactivating the old SIM card and ordering a new SIM card, as long as you have your identity papers available.

And one more question. Is it so that the thief will not be able to change the Apple ID password or remove the trusted phone number without face ID with the stolen device protection enabled? Would this fact change if the thief is located very close to your trusted locations?

I am trying to figure out whether I should enable the feature only for trusted locations, always, or not at all if it could cause a permanent block to Apple account in e.g., vacations outside trusted locations or when changing devices after losing an old iPhone.

Everything works well with the trusted device at hand. But as for example there are over 140 phones stolen every day in London alone, there could be a day when I longer no have it.

Thank you very much for the insight.

Kind regards,

Just another iPhone user