Imported photos read-only

Well, when you sync, it is not really considered importing photos from the computer to the iPhone, it is syncing, which is a little different. This support document about syncing photos outlines information about deleting. I'm not sure this is the warning about a disadvantage or not, but I guess it would depend on how familiar you are with syncing content to iOS devices. iTunes: Syncing photos - Apple Support The answer is correct, and this is the only way to get photos back to the iPhone from the computer, there is no other way. Unless one was to take the time to email them from the computer, pick up the email on the iPhone and then save the photo from the email. That would be the only way to get them back into the Camera Roll. Which is the only place you have to delete them directly from the phone.

Synced photos can only be removed from the device via another sync. That is the process for adding and removing those photos, since they reside on the computer. The only photos you can remove directly from the phone are those that are taken with the iPhone camera, or saved via messages, email, or internet. You have some control over them, but you have to determine what photos you want on the phone and sync that group. If that changes, you have to make the change on the computer and then sync with iTunes. You can tap on a photo synced from the computer and select edit, but it prompts you to create a copy to save and edit.