>it’s just a pain in the butt masquerading as “choice”.
It's not when they actually have to compete on price. Then you pick the one which offers you the lowest price for what you're looking for.
So when a friend of yours wants to message you and you don’t have the same app, what happens?
Both apps are free. Now you have to download another App Store to download the messaging app.
Price has no bearing here whatsoever.
>So when a friend of yours wants to message you and you don’t have the same app, what happens?
I tell the friend to call, text or email me. Price doesn't have any bearing because the market on messaging apps has bottomed out, in part due to Apple's app store policies.
I'm guessing you don't have friends spread out over several countries, where calling or texting is not a cheap (or even reliable) option.
And nobody checks email frequently enough.
But the point was a simple example. Clearly you seem to enjoy complexity more than me.
But actually, there is a big difference - I can buy jeans anywhere. I can buy Levi jeans anywhere.
If I had to go to Macy’s so that I could get a shirt (with no alternative), and then had to go to Nordstrom to get socks (with no alternative), and then..... then yeah, that would be crippling.
There is a reason amazon and Walmart are so powerful - you can get anything in one stop.
Bundling is important. It’s why people buy Comcast xfinity cable + internet or have all their family on one cell phone plan - it’s reduces effort, stress, and cognitive load.
Apple vs Android is good choice. Having to go to ten app stores to get my apps is not - it’s just a pain in the butt masquerading as “choice”.