[jayfuerstenberg]

The bigger financial barrier to entry is buying a Mac and iPhone (for those who don't own these).

After that, $99 is not a big sacrifice and you quickly recuperate your money even if you sell your app for 99¢.

I am both an iOS and Mac developer ($99 x 2 per year) and I'm in the black and then some with a couple of apps sold between 99¢ and $2.99.

[verelo]

Complete agree, also the idea of self hosting content in order to save a few $ is really not something we can ever expect - nor should we ask for it IMO.

One of the best features of the app store is that from the consumers perspective its smooth, reliable and just works. Having lots of "cheap" app developers trying to save $100 / yr by hosting their app bin's themselves could results in an unreliable market place that ultimately drives people away from it.