But are regular users aware of any of that? Do they know how app publishing works at all? Do they know about the absolute disgrace that is the app review process and the "guidelines" it follows? Do they know they can't sideload apps? Do they know every single binary that an iOS device runs has to be signed by Apple?

I bet they don't. And Apple would've lost some part of their user base if they were honest about this with their users, not just developers.

Though around me in particular, many people became acutely aware of that in 2016 when Pokemon Go became huge and those with iPhones found out they can't just download the game from somewhere else and install it to bypass the geographical restrictions in the app store. Some made separate Apple IDs for a country where it was available. Many were envious to those who use Android, because you'd just download an apk and be done with it.

The modern era provides individual humans with greater access to information and ability to publish information than has ever existed before.

If “regular users” aren’t taking the same stance as you, maybe it’s not because they aren’t aware, maybe it’s because they have different use cases and priorities.

Every app they download is distributed through the app store. If it doesn't fit the app store rules, it simply never materializes, and so no one ever sees it. You only become aware of these limitations once you want to make an app, modify someone else's app, or, like in my example, want to use an app that isn't officially released in your country.

Apple is very good at disguising these limitations such that you don't notice them unless you start actively thinking about iOS development one way or another. In other words, you only become aware of the walls around the walled garden if you try to escape it.

Oh no, you think that if only the users knew about X then they would care, when really they don’t care so they have no reason to know about X. Not to get too off topic but Epic thought they’d have popular support for their new App Store but the entire world just shrugged and saw it as a greedy play for more money.

Anyways I digress, though you really think that Apple not wanting you to install an unsanctioned iPhone app is going to cause outrage? Sideloading has been a thing for a long long time

The day the iPhone was announced they stated that the app model would be http based apps that could be installed from anywhere.