[kornish]

One incentive to police the store is that quality is a draw for users.

[noxToken]

What's the alternative, iOS? That's great for people with financial stability in developed nations, but that leaves out swathes of those in developing nations.

[tehwebguy]

Old & new previous-gen iPhones are available at Android prices, including “free with contract” (in the US at least).

They aren’t cutting edge, but neither are the equivalently priced Androids.

[ben_w]

I have an Android dev phone that cost £19, no contract, about half-to-a-third the price of a then-equivalent second-hand iPhone. In third world countries even a £19 device is worth stealing, as a friend of my partner experienced.

[tehwebguy]

Wow, that is cheaper than I expected. What brand?

[ben_w]

Vodafone sold it (pay as you go, no contract) with only their brand visible, but I think it’s an Alcatel device under the paint. The model is no longer being made, but their current cheapest model is almost as cheap.

[arvinsim]

Old iPhones are still prohibitively expensive in developing countries. Brand new low/midrange Android phones usually cost half or less.

[noxToken]

Good catch. Didn't even think about that.

[jhasse]

F-Droid