I'm not talking about end users, i.e., individual humans. I'm talking about "end-use products". Having already stipulated that water is analogous to data, in my example, a bathtub or hose or sink or washing machine (all of which require water to be functional) are like Netflix or Sling or Wikipedia (which require data to be functional). Basically, the products that require the data that can only be transmitted by the servicer provider is an "end-use product" in order to have function. With that understanding, then a water company owning a bathtub manufacturer is like AT&T owning Sling, which--for exactly the reasons you state--threatens to stifle innovation.

So I think you and I agree, but that agreement got lost in a somewhat convoluted and strained analogy.