The real question isn't why they deserve 30% lots of people have plenty of arguments about why they believe it's justified because they provide the hardware and dev tools on iOS.

The real question is why I don't have to pay them 30% for software and transactions on my MacBook. Because once you consider that most of those arguments are thrown out.

I don't mind the 30% at all, I just mind that I'm forced to because they banned the creation of any and all alternatives. The fact that someone would need to build their own phone + OS just to avoid a fee is both hilarious and scary

"Provide" is a bit vague word for "sell". They _sell_ their hardware and force the developers to use their tools.

But you already pay them $99/year for a dev account... why do you have to pay them for every purchase as well?

$99/y is really nothing compared to the 30% cut when you look at companies like Epic or Supercell.

I’m certain that they could not continue to provide the App Store in its current form without any fee.

Because the 99$/year are for the dev platform and the 15%/30% cut are for using the infrastructure needed for in app purchases.

Why should someone who is making $100 revenue off a transaction pay the same fee as me who's making $1 revenue?

Because the costs do not scale with the revenue

How do you know their costs don't scale? Maybe there's insurance or compliance requirements that also apply?

And it begs the question - is "cost-plus" the only valid pricing model?

Why would their costs scale with revenue? Cost+ certainly isn't the only valid model. Many people are fine with a 30% cut.

they do - the first 1m$ only cost 15% - It's btw the same with the Google Play Store

The fees scale with revenue - what I'm saying is that Apple's own costs do not scale with the revenue they take from companies on the app store.

e.g. A single transaction of $10,000 does not Apple more than $100 other than the beforementioned financial transaction fee.

Sure, roll your own payment system.

> Why should Apple or anyone get a percentage?

Because it’s progressive to do so.

I think you may be living in the 90s. The global population has decided what their privacy and autonomy is worth. An individual cannot move the needle.