let's say someone offered you a deal: for a 30% tax, your device would be X% more secure and you'd have Y% fewer troubles with upgrades and dodgy software. Would you take it? I would.

I'm happy to have my house in Apple's gated community because I know every day I'll drive out to Linuxville at the edge of town and work in my shop filled with sharp tools.

That makes no sense. Having more competition does not mean that anything will be less secure.

Like in real life, you could absolutely choose to always go to the one expensive shop you trust rather than a cheap one in a dodgy street.

Wishing for the shop you like to have and use the power to remove the other ones from existence has nothing to do with your own security.

>let's say someone offered you a deal: for a 30% tax, your device would be X% more secure and you'd have Y% fewer troubles with upgrades and dodgy software. Would you take it? I would.

there is no reason you couldn't have this while also having competing app stores. All you would need to do is not install the competing app stores.

People will install the dodgy app store and still blame Apple.

Same way people blamed Microsoft when Bonzi Buddy made their computer barf.

Right now the perception of iPhones is that they work. Soon as people are tricked (and given the $$$ at stake that will happen) into installing malware infested garbage, the platform's rep will take a hit.

Android used to allow apps a lot more freedom, but then android phones turned into ad filled monstrosities with a battery life measured in fractions of a day, and Google had to clamp down.

Also, I wasn't offered a deal. So while you personally think it's a good deal, I'm computer literate enough to not need the help at the expense of my freedom.

The deal is offered when you decide which device you’d like to buy.

Wow. Couldn’t have put it better myself.

Probably the one that's full of fake apps and malware. Or you can write desktop apps and sell them however you'd like.

Your argument is disingenious at best.

> Probably the one that's full of fake apps and malware.

If all other marketplaces are shady then why is that? Is it because Apple has locked out any way for a competing marketplace to afford to protect users? If you know of specific instances of fake apps and malware being distributed on other legitimate marketplaces why don't you name such a marketplace and get it improved?

> Or you can write desktop apps and sell them however you'd like.

Desktop apps target a completely different user-base with different wants and needs. That's like asking people wanting to make and sell cars to consider making toys instead.

> Or you can write desktop apps and sell them however you'd like.

How much longer do you think this will be possible?

Or maybe it will still be possible, somehow.

But not without going through some hard to navigate loops and dire threats to life and limb when you proceed with installing software from somebody who couldn't or wouldn't pay up for the necessary certificates.