The devastating impact isn't the plugins themselves, it's that no major creative apps are sandboxed in the Mac App Store, and the apps did invest in Apple technology stack are struggling for relevance. The devastating impact is in the lack of apps, and the problems the current apps are running into. I expect you're response will be: These apps are declining for other reasons, but I disagree and see a simple pattern: Apple had a strategy of supporting creating apps from 2000-2010 and creative apps thrived on their platforms, their policy was to work against creative apps from 2010-2020, and those apps stopped thriving. Simple cause and effect.
I don’t see Apple working against creative apps at all. I see them as securing the platform in a way that is vital to the future.
The makers of these creative apps simply don’t care about security and have chosen not to invest in it.
The makers of creative apps are therefore working against users over time.
It is also about prevention of malware and exploits. Apple can’t control the attack surface of of 3rd party apps, but it can contain the damage caused if they are exploited.
Those major creative apps are gigantic attack surfaces.
Beyond plugins - what is this ‘devastating impact’ sandboxing has had?