They did this with the latest iPhone update as well. What drives me nuts is that they also automatically download the damn updates so it wastes a big chunk of fucking space on the phone, sometimes forcing you to update if you need to space to take pictures and stuff like most people do.
I also turned off location services entirely. They cry saying "WARNING: You will not have Find my iPhone capability if you lose your phone" threatening you almost and most people back down.
I ditched Iphones when I left the corporate world at Land Rover, they were at least free with the job, would never buy one though, but each to their own.
I am on Linux also, hate windows, hate forced updates, yuck to em both.