[inversionOf]

Ignoring that it seems like the "fix" in this blog post is a really bad idea

This is a new restriction and setting on an OS that won't be released widely for months. When fully functioning this setting doesn't downgrade the security of an app, but simply breakingly blocks behaviors that aren't compliant.

Google advises you to start all new apps as HTTPS only, but to add this exclusion to have existing behavior of legacy applications, at least in the short term while they continue migrating the entire ad network to HTTPS.

There is an enormous amount of overreaction and, dare I say, hysteria throughout this thread, and you would think that Google just disabled SSL on the device or something, versus offered an approach for apps to continue doing what they're doing, presumably with the developer understanding the consequences.

[e28eta]

I think you're wrong on the timing of iOS 9 being widely released. I think regular users are likely to have it within the month, and adoption should be faster than ever.