Previously, Genius Bar staff had some flexibility in waiving the $199 out-of-warranty replacement fee as a “one-time exception”, giving customers a free replacement for a damaged phone. With the shift to AppleCare+, Genius Bar staff will no longer have the option of offering free replacements, so customers who have been aware of Apple’s informal replacement policy should be mindful of the change.
I had a feeling this would be the case. It doesn’t make sense for Apple to have an inconsistent customer service message that depends on how good your story is when you walk up to the genius bar.