[snazz]

I support most of the requirements listed in this article, in addition to removing the 30% cut. I do not support third-party app stores on iOS because I believe that the benefits of increased consumer choice in that regard do not outweigh the concerns of allowing larger companies with significant app ecosystems (or governments) to make their own app stores with different, potentially user-hostile or privacy-compromising apps.

[Yetanfou]

No equivalent of something like F-Droid on iOS makes it a no-go in all circumstances. I trust F-Droid far more than I'd trust Apple or Google.

No opportunity to replace things like the system browser on iOS makes it a no-go in all circumstances. I want my device to run software I approved, I want to be able to choose important system components like the web renderer, I want to be able to install an ingress/egress firewall, I want to be able to build software for the device without needing some signing key from the vendor. I want to be able to build software for the device on any of the devices I use which have the required memory, CPU and build infrastructure. This build infrastructure should not be dependent on a single closed operating system since I don't run closed operating systems.

The simple conclusion here is that iOS is not for me nor for those who share my preferences.

[gowld]

Definitely user-hostile app stores are better than potentially user-hostile?

[snazz]

That seems like a loaded question.

If third-party app stores are allowed, companies like Epic or Facebook might just make their own app stores (or "launchers"), like they can on Windows. Governments could disallow the App Store and instead use a country-specific app store with apps that compromise privacy and include other user-hostile behavior. While it's arguably the government's responsibility to legislate and enforce privacy regulations, Apple seems to be much better at this than I would trust a government to be. Having the single App Store on iOS devices is easier, more intuitive, less susceptible to malware (and it's easier to remove malware that gets through), less susceptible to extreme government intervention, and better at protecting user privacy.

By using an Apple device, you trust Apple. They design the hardware (including the processor and Secure Enclave), write the software, and run iCloud. Trusting other companies to build their own app stores in a privacy-preserving and user-friendly manner—especially when their business model involves selling user data—seems decidedly user-hostile.

[Dahoon]

>Trusting other companies to build their own app stores in a privacy-preserving and user-friendly manner

Which app store is "privacy-preserving and user-friendly" ? None of the two big ones fit either. Sure you could argue one might be better than a Facebook made one but that doesn't mean they are good or uphold privacy.