[petegrif]

Scott if I read you correctly I think this is a profound misunderstanding of how to potentially build a viable business on a platform. Let's examine two extremes.

a) dev builds software on the platform that doesn't disrupt the platforms economics, distribution, or organizational limitations. b) dev builds software on the platform that does disrupt the platforms economics, distribution, or organizational limitations.

You seem to be saying that if he had done a 'proper job' he would have pursued strategy b. But surely that is precisely the case where you can expect to be bullied. It is strategy a. where you develop software that does none of those things, but adds value to the platform by adding value to the users of the platform where you are least likely to be bullied. In these circumstances you are no threat and you are complementing the platform.

Strategy a can only be pursued when you are not dependent on the platform and hence are much harder to bully.

[fusiongyro]

In case A, what's stopping the platform from re-doing themselves whatever it is you've done?

[scottrafer]

+1 That's why Case A doesn't work for me.