[tstegart]

I don't think its a myth. Apple really has done a lot of the marketing on behalf of developers. Everyone iPhone user knows where to get their iPhone apps. Just that right there is huge. Yeah, you still have to work hard outside the store, but setting up the location, the trust (no need to worry about Apple) and the ease of use is a marketing marvel that webapps just don't have. I think its hard to ignore the advantages. Going above and beyond that will help you immensely, but at least you don't have to replicate Apple work.

[ashu]

Well, I can't deny all of this because it's true. However, it is not very useful ultimately since everything is relative. Everybody on the App Store gets these advantages. Yes, there is a central location to look for but when you have thousands of apps and you are not in the top few, you are essentially back to the user already knowing about your app.