[ericmay]

I’ve heard this discussion point often “most users won’t switch to the new store” but the problem with that point is it makes all of the 3rd-party App Store development and related activities pointless. I don’t buy that they will need to maintain a presence. iOS is what moves the needle and drives revenue.

US regulation will almost certainly follow EU regulation to allow 3rd-party app stores or it’ll just be a tax we all pay in the US on prices (probably small, admittedly) for devices and software cost as Apple has to maintain increasingly divergent os profiles for different locales.

Also I think you are correct that Meta may follow 3rd-party App Store rules and regulations, but if they’re all subject to to the same rules and relegations allowing the 3rd-party stores is either pointless and annoying (download the Meta store to download the Meta apps) or it’ll just be used for scummy and scammy software.

But also a lot of let’s say user data tracking for example could theoretically be banned by the EU but Meta can just get around that and maybe pay the cost later. It’s not like there are any watchdogs here. They don’t need Apple or their requirement to allow Sign in with Apple or to follow any sort of checks and balances (they are dogfooding) from another institution.

All that to say, I see no benefit to these 3rd party app stores and lots of potential negatives. But I guess it’s “more open” or something?