[bzzzt]

Ok, what do you make of this then? https://support.apple.com/en-us/122712

While not perfect, they claim to do security checks and verify some privacy choices. So they do something at least.

As a consumer I can see value in Apple forcing itself in an arbiter role for app payments so they can step in when I have a conflict with an app developer.

[isodev]

All this is rehashed common sense - what you as a seller of software probably will do anyway to appear legitimate. No part of the review process stops someone from circumventing any of those rules - all you need is for the app to behave during review.

Every technical safeguard is part of the operating system anyway, so that’s what’s really protecting you and it will still protect you when you install an app from another source. Just like computers have worked since forever.

[bzzzt]

The safeguard of being able to get a refund for a non-working app is not part of the operating system, but belongs to the app store.