At Intel the designers on the physical side of IC design are expected to juggle chainsaws and work hand in hand with process developers to learn how to do it properly. That is part of controlling your destiny.
Explains why Intel keeps cutting its arms off whenever it tries to do a baseband in its own process (RIP "6331"). Fits right in with what I am hearing, about them putting the "C" team on the case.
You grossly overestimate the portion of the iPhone BoM that is the applications processor, IMO.
A foundry has thousands of customers and most of them are on the n00b end of the spectrum. The design rules and methodologies are in bright primary colours and built with lots of cushioned foam for their protection.
At Intel the designers on the physical side of IC design are expected to juggle chainsaws and work hand in hand with process developers to learn how to do it properly. That is part of controlling your destiny.
That's kind of a huge negative for their foundry efforts...