I can't remember. Regardless, I don't see why they'd remove some apps (that still work fine!) and not others, eg the Pocket God example I gave above which hasn't been updated in 7 years.

Also, "unlisting" such apps would be better than removing them entirely, particularly since we have no alternative way of distribution.

I have a working theory that if Pocket God was uploaded with Bitcode, then Apple can recompile/relink it automatically for each year’s platform updates; and for projects not uploaded with Bitcode, the harsher standard is being applied to get that recompilation.

Disproven here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31137909

I believe the notice said that they would be delisted

Nope, "removed from Sale".

You might be thinking about the fact that users who have previously downloaded the app will still be able to do so.

“Delisted” and “removed from sale” sound like synonyms to me. How do they differ? Neither necessary means “totally removed from Apple servers.”

If an app is unlisted it could still be accessible by a direct link.

Unlisted ≠ delisted. Delisted sounds to me like removed from the App Store, and unlisted sounds to me like hidden.

I paid $15 for the iOS version of Binding of Isaac and it disappeared from my library with no refund. Apple definitely completely removes things sometimes.