[JoshCalbet]

> What makes it absolutely necessary for users to sign up before they can try your app?

Offer some kind of reward, like cashapp, paypal, etc...

> Why do I have to give my email even for apps that should be able to work perfectly fine without an internet connection?

Number of users lead to monetization ad a way to reach them a channel to do it.

> Do you track how many potential users are disgusted by this, i.e. by comparing the number of total downloads versus signups?

You should definitely do this. These numbers are vital to create strategies for growth