Ok, tt2, my apologies. Bear with my response here, because I'm frustrated with this situation.
I responded the way I did because I've seen your solution posted a few times exactly as you posted it here, and it simply looked like an automated bot's response. Honestly couldn't tell whether or not it was a bot or a human (and your username only adds to the confusion, to be honest). I don't know if you work for Apple or are just a very smart, nice person answering this issue.
It appears to be the usual, "Just restore as new" solution, which, to me, is kind of an infuriating thing to do, as I've had to do it way too many times over the past ten years or so for my various iPhones.
So you'll have to pardon my skepticism and lack of wanting to once again restore my iPhone as new to solve something that: a) should never happen in the first place, b) should not happen over and over again, and c) should be much easier to resolve than going to the extreme of restoring my device as new.
It's frustrating to keep having iTunes issues, only to be told, "restore your device". How about Apple just fixes iTunes?
I have to also disagree with you that the three steps you suggest are simple. Maybe they are for you. I'm just an average iPhone user. I bought into the whole, "It just works" thing from Apple because I don't want to have to be at the level of an I.T. person in order to use my devices. I just want to use them and have them be reliable. It's why I stay away from PCs and Android devices, because to me, they are way worse.
So, to me, those steps aren't simple. They're a huge time killer and headache that only work temporarily. Every time I've done this it's taken an extremely long time and problems crop up again within a few months. I've restored so many iPhones as new so many times over the last decade that I could scream. It is only ever a temporary solution. Hence my "lack of enthusiasm" for your first response.
So, since you seem to be an actual human answering my dilemma, first, thank you for responding. Second, please try and put yourself in the shoes of the average dummy just wanting to use his phone. You're obviously way more advanced with these devices and systems. The last thing I want to do is go through that process of restoring as new because it never goes smoothly, always takes a long time, and never lasts long.
If there are any other steps I can take before "the nuclear option" I want to do them first. I hope you understand.
