That isn't entirely true. You can change it as long as it is done via package overrides or overlays. Sure it rules out just compiling/installing something into your root unless you package it first but you can change it.
I honestly like the fact that it effectively enforces every file in the immutable parts of the OS to be traceable back to some package.
Silverblue and other distros like it fix this by not changing the running system. The pending update just becomes the running system on next boot.
Are we just ignoring the significant amount of energy it would take to get a pot of water up to a boil?
It only works if you have an ARM CPU with an NPU.
No, it works on x86-64 assuming the device has a sufficient NPU. Both AMD and Intel CPUs latest CPUs list the Recall preview as available now.
I've never used a case and never broken a screen. I've only replaced my last several phones due to swollen batteries. Although, I've definitely dropped my phone a couple times where I thought for sure that my streak would be over, but I've just been lucky.