Why the minimum screen lock timeout is only 30 seconds?

Auto Lock will lock the screen when no taps are detected on the device. If it was 5 seconds, you would not even be able to read a text message or web page before it locked. To immediately lock your screen just click the side button.

“Immediate" would be pointless; it would lock as soon as you unlocked it, so you could never use the phone.

5 Seconds means that you would have to unlock the phone and then choose the app you wanted within 5 seconds, and if you didn’t use the app continuously it would lock in the middle of what you are doing.

Perhaps you aren’t thinking of Auto-Lock, but actually Require Passcode, which is how long after the screen locks you can still unlock it without entering a passcode or Face ID. If you have Face ID enabled, that is always “Immediately”.

Ever since I turned on auto lock to never my phone doesn’t turn off when it’s turned around and I feel like 30 seconds is more than enough time to snatch a phone and go through it. I can’t go to work and keep my phone there without it turning off I just want to be able to have my phone there and not get it taken and or looked through by a random person.