[mtgx]

Google pretty much solved this issue with sideloaded apps.

Nobody is stopping you from downloading only from the store. But if you want, you can also download from outside of the store. As a bonus, Google even checks those apps for malware (but like any antivirus, it's mostly based on signatures + some relatively weak machine learning that won't stop original new malware until it gets reported by someone).

The Play Store may also be slightly less secure than the App Store, but that's mainly a factor of Google not doing any manual reviews. But this is a different issue. My point is that there's no reason why Apple couldn't allow sideloading, too.

[brisance]

Apple has allowed sideloading for a long time now. You just need to jump through more hoops. How do you think large MNCs like IBM deploy their apps?

[gscott]

Yes, like Gab that is banned from the app store.