[notjosh]

The best I can tell is that the Health app is more of a hub to see aggregated (raw-ish) data, and set/update permissions on what apps have access to what data.

I don't think their intent is to compete with any of the apps out there that use the data though.

[MBCook]

I believe your correct. The iPhone 5s, 6, and 6+ all record the number of steps you take thanks to the M7 motion processor, but that seems to be more of a 'because it's there' thing.