[youngerdryas]

This title is not accurate. You could always sell your code and assets but you would have to recompile and resubmit whereas now it stays live through the transfer.

[mikeash]

Depends on what you consider to be the "app". The procedure you describe means the app gets a new name, a new bundle ID, means that no existing purchasers get a copy of the newly submitted app, no automatic upgrades, user settings are not migrated, no reviews transfer over, etc.

[youngerdryas]

Yes, this is definitely better for the users as well as the developers.

[gte910h]

You've been able to do this for awhile now. NOW you don't need Apple's help though to do it.

[fudged71]

Isn't the whole benefit the point that you keep the userbase? They've essentially allowed devs to sell their list of users along with their app.