My massive error was not properly understanding what Backup meant. Back what up? My iPhone is already backing up through the cloud. Why would I need their stupid backup? I had to give an account name, a pin, it uses my biometrics... but none of it mattered. None.
Unfortunately it didn't. I can understand your disappointment but you have to realize that all of this could have been prevented if you were a bit more cautious and asked these questions before you started using the wallet. The screenshot HCP posted says:
Don't risk your money. Take 2 minutes to back up your wallet. I can understand that you are new to crypto and you didn't know the importance of seed phrases, but didn't it occur to you to research what they mean with backing up a wallet and how can one lose access to crypto? The
Backup now button is in blue. Coinbase uses visual stimulus to make you press that button. The
Later button has no highlighting, it's less visible because of its less importance.
Why not simply show the words/keys before letting someone transact. Or why not say, "If you lose these Seed words, you lose all your money?"
I agree, they should have showed them at the beginning and most wallets do. It doesn't say what you wrote, but they do warn you that you are risking to lose your money if you don't back up your wallet.
Am I just an idiot and deserve to lose all my money because I missed a button? Are all the other people who it has happened to also just so stupid they deserve?
You are not an idiot. You just didn't have the needed knowledge and patience to research what you are getting into, and unfortunately, it cost you quite a lot of money.