The problem comes when they're picked early and left to ripen off-tree or they're picked too late. Either way they become a mealy mess after a few days. However, in this condition, it still looks great and the dark colour disguises any obvious bruising. This is probably why it's so prevalent in retail chains.
By the way, the mechanics of the organization behind those orchards are insane. It's an organization of thousands of farmers from the same valley (val di Non), with agronomists that decide when to harvest depending on the altitude and the variety. Apples brought a lot of wealth and infrastructure, since the valley roads had to be updated for the tricks. The organization even bought an old mine to have a 10 km tunnel at constant temperature in which to store apples.
This. This is the whole problem.
Apples are not supposed to be "meh".
So there's bound to be a lot that you might find unappealing but have a sizeable following anyhow.
Same with oranges, the cheap ones (navelinas) are sweet but they taste of nothing and really are only good for juice. Sicilian red oranges on the other hand have a stronger taste, they are great. I have never tried a blind test but I am pretty sure I could pass it.