Well, that was because developers demanded it. Apple initially didn't allow in-app payments for free apps.
No, developers demanded time-limited trials for paid apps, which we had for many years before the App Store.
But Apple _never_ delivered on that. Instead, Apple pushed "subscriptions", which is just another name for rental.
Apple, Adobe, Microsoft, Google...
Subscription models produce lots of recurring revenue, so companies absolutely adore that model when they can get away with it.
No, we got free to play with endless micro transactions instead. I would have preferred the price bump.