The original point was "why would I learn a new thing, when I already know something which works". The response "some people don't have something they already know" is valid.
You're really bringing up a separate point which is "should we be reinventing the wheel?", I think that's a fair point, but it's not a response to the original commentator.
The batteries are powered by solar panels. In either case the same arguments apply - space is notoriously low power.
Phones can't use directional antennas, otherwise you'd have to point them at radio towers. Using phased array antennas in which directionality is software controlled, there's a trade off between size of antenna and how much you can focus the beam - it wouldn't work in a phone (and would be too expensive anyway).
In the UK I've heard it said you can make a subject access request (SAR) for any information a company holds on you. This would include interview notes for example.
I assume something similar applies in the rest of europe due to GDPR?