A (142) word(s) of warning

I'm back! Sorry to be away for so long, but my MacBook Pro's hard drive took a dump and getting it fixed turned out to be quite an ordeal. Through the experience I learned something about Apple's policies that I feel should be shared.

When you go to an Apple store to get a new hard drive installed, Apple keeps your original hard drive even if it's out of warranty. If you want your drive back, you have to pay a fee of $150. That's one hundred fifty dollars for someone to hand your personal property back to you. On top of this, they offer no guarantee that they will destroy the drive.

If you want your drive back to try and recover your family photos, passwords and personal documents you have to pay Apple a fee. How is this not extortion?