[nvy]

>Is that better for consumers than Apple and Google operating them and demanding a high enough margin to support moderation and review?

Do their moderation/review processes meaningfully improve the situation for users?

Both app stores are replete with scam/spam/spy/malware apps. I'm not convinced that the app stores are able to materially affect the quality of apps that go through.

[immibis]

They certainly improve the situation for shareholders. I am banned from the Google app store for making an app which was labeled with the service it interacted with, which was trademarked. (Example: If you make a Reddit app, Google won't let you put "Reddit" anywhere in the label without Reddit's legal permission, making it impossible for anyone to discover your app through search, which is the way people discover apps)

[mitthrowaway2]

I think that policy is probably well-meaning, to protect people from installing apps masquerading as other apps by mistake.

[nvy]

It's not clear to me from your example what the relationship is to shareholders.

[immibis]

it's good for the shareholders of reddit, and any other company that trademarked something you might want to make an app about