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Feels like this is probably the result of telco networks wanting as much friction as possible to change providers, but is there something more to it?
I must add you can find flip phones cheaper than cost of lightening cables.
1) Security: telco laws these days often require registration of accounts to your personal ID (i.e. no anonymous usage any more). How would a pure soft-SIM be able to fetch the data from the network?
2) Flexibility: SIM is pretty much standardized. This means a newcomer MVNO just has to issue SIM cards and the customer can use any kind of phone (or other interface, like a modem, a 2G/3G shield, ...) to use the network. And if a device breaks, then the SIM card usually stays intact and can be placed in a new device. Not sure how to securely do this with a soft-SIM.
In most western countries, SIMs do little else; however, they are full application platforms, allowing stuff like Kenya's mobile payment network https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-Pesa.
For what it's worth, you really don't want to have every network provider negotiate with Samsung for the particular access policy of that network. "Not compatible with your telephone" indeed!
It contains what is known as a remote provisioning SIM: https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/?file=81d866ecda8b...
So clearly the only thing stopping the industry is the telcos who would very much like to make it as difficult as humanely possible for you to switch carriers. Especially in the US where there is a lot of competition and hence high churn.
Also see a company called SIMless.
There's a lot of market momentum around SIM cards and it keeps a telco's offering really sticky. It is more effort for people to swap hardware instead of software.