How do they discourage it? It’s a clearly-labeled button in the Settings app, which brings up one modal sheet explaining what will change if you turn it on, then one more button press and it’s on.
Apple does a lot of things I don't agree with in the interest of share price (like cozying up to authoritarian governments) but this seems like a reach to criticize them for a feature they have put extensive effort into, rather than applauding that they resist spying and enhance customer privacy. Sure, it's an optional feature and maybe they don't push broad acceptance of it, but it's important for those that need it.
Is it supported in iOS 18? They seem to suggest in their own documentation that very few people need or should use it. They could do much more to encourage and support its use. Even the naming “lockdown” vs “secure” is a big tell.