>From a developer perspective I don't see why anyone should use the AppStore as a distribution channel to a huge market and completely circumvent Apple's cut when clearly they are offering a lot of value by making this possible in the first place?

Would it be fair if Google would take a cut for any payments you do from Chrome? Also by this logic I assume you think is fair that next OSX version will lockdown and you will have to pay Apple for the privilege of running the applications you want and that Apple also approved that are safe for you and are also contain Apple approved content.

Apple could make you pay to host free applications on their store, so you pay the costs for hosting the content. For paid apps Apple can take a small cut on top of the hosting if they promote the applications. Apple should not get involved if I buy a XBOX game using an XBOX app and get a giant cut from that and they should not block legal content