[ankurnagpal89]

I have not developed for the Facebook platform since the latter half of 2011 so there might be some truth in it - but this was certainly effective up until then.

The spam-rating was only one aspect of it - horizontal distribution attracted users that otherwise simply would not have been interested in the application otherwise.

Regarding iOS shutting you down, I think two things are important. The first is making a good case for the application not being shallow - looking at the way Udemy has full course (some of which have 10+ hours of material) on drastically different topics as separate applications might be a good template. They have over 100 iOS Apps and have not faced any action.

The other interesting strategy to consider (one that I haven't tested) is talking power users (such as meetup group organizers) through the process of generating the correct signing keys and then letting them download a complete application binary that they independently submit to the App Store under their own account. This casts a wider net and potentially might alleviate the getting shut down issue.

With that said, I haven't tested it on iOS myself so cannot speak authoritatively.

I have succeeded with horizontal distribution on Google Play by using screen automation technology to submit applications - but finally, had to take it down since the applications were based on quotes from TV shows which Google claimed did not come under the Fair Use Act of the Copyright law (whole other issue)

[thetrumanshow]

Nice. I call this technique the "attack of the clones". I was slammed with this method by competitors in FB apps in 2007.

Cleverly done my nemesis. :) As you note, this is effective in many other places too.