I have the issue where media volume and alert volume is now tied together and there’s no way to fix it.

I’ve I watch a YouTube video, my next message will rupture my ear drums. If I don’t want audio form Reddit for example I’ll no longer receive notification sounds.

Unnecessary waste and it saves money.

It doesn’t call 911, it calls the emergency services of your country.

Regardless, most countries will redirect most if not all emergency numbers anyway. I’ve called 000 in Europe because I wasn’t aware of what it was here yet and it works fine.

This surely isn’t an Apple Watch issue? It’s your service provider.

What are people doing, in retail or otherwise, that they need a case?

I work in an underground mine as a geologist so I spend most of my time looking at and hitting rocks etc. and my watch looks like new besides some micro-scratches that I could easily polish out. I’ve gone cycling, skiing, rock climbing, and bouldering with it without issues. Just don’t smack your arm on shit.