[2muchcoffeeman]

I'm not sure what it is about software that makes people so damn cheap.

Consider all the other activities that people do as hobbies that have absolutely no possibility of even breaking even. Some of these require expensive equipment, fees, time. Getting set up to develop for iOS, even allowing for the cost of buying a Mac, compares well to what else you could be doing.

[mistercow]

It's not just the cost. It's also the bureaucracy and loss of control that the App Store creates. Releasing and maintaining an app as an individual developer is difficult enough without adding a whole layer of unnecessary red tape and fees that serve no legitimate purpose.

[CJefferson]

Also it makes it very hard to just leave apps up. Do I keep paying Apple every year just to give a free app away to people?

[2muchcoffeeman]

Why not? If you have a half decent app and it helps people, and that gives you some satisfaction, do it. That's a well spent $99. Everyone already spends more money on less worthy things.