Regardless of whether or not sending deauth packets counts as jamming, the root problem can be solved by simply enabling and requiring protected management frames on your router/hotspot/phone.
Once you have protected management frames required, the only way to block your devices from connecting to your hotspot would be the kind of actual jamming that I'm sure we can all agree is illegal. Problem solved.
Unfortunately most phones' hotspot apps don't let you configure this setting (and disable it by default), so we need to push OEMs to enable it by default or at least make it configurable. I for one have it required on my home network, and it gives me peace of mind knowing that I can't be deauthed by random strangers.
Once you have protected management frames required, the only way to block your devices from connecting to your hotspot would be the kind of actual jamming that I'm sure we can all agree is illegal. Problem solved.
Unfortunately most phones' hotspot apps don't let you configure this setting (and disable it by default), so we need to push OEMs to enable it by default or at least make it configurable. I for one have it required on my home network, and it gives me peace of mind knowing that I can't be deauthed by random strangers.