[coldcode]

This is nothing new, developing iOS and MacOS apps you use public APIs and never use private ones. I have never had any desire or need to use something not documented/public in anything I have built. You'd have to be pretty dumb to depend on something that Apple can and will change whenever they want. When I worked at Apple 25 years ago I remember the source code to the old MacOS was riddled with "if Word version 4.05 do this, if 4.15 do that" to try and avoid breaking Microsoft's apps". It was a nightmarish attempt to ensure buggy software didn't suddenly stop working. I don't blame Apple for wanting to avoid this kind of pain today.

[thothamon]

Valid points. My worry is if this is being exercised inconsistently. Is the same rule applied in the same way to everyone? Even Apple granting itself exceptions isn't great -- and I know it does grant this exception to itself -- but if it grants exceptions to some third parties but not others, or does not faithfully and consistently enforce the rule for everyone, that would be extremely troubling.