My concern is that scenario won't exist.

If enough developers choose to move to those other stores consumers will have no choice but to use those stores to get the apps they are looking for.

I understand wanting apps that the app stores doesn't permit. There are apps that I would love as well. But I don't want to loose the protections in place to get them.

When your response to criticism of iOS is, "just use Android!", I think it's fair to apply the same approach to desirable popular apps: just use the alternative apps & services.

> My concern is that scenario won't exist.

Why wouldn't it? It's the reality of Android, why would it work any different on iOS?

I have not used Android in a long time so most of my news about it comes somewhere else.

But unless I am mistaken, a developer on Android is free to handle their own subscription billing, purchases, whatever however they want right?

I have seen some reports that google is tracking to crack down on this, but last I saw it was still far more open for the developers.

If that is correct. Developers are less incentivized to circumvent the Android Store. That incentive exists on iOS if it allows them to use those dark patterns for unsubscribing from an app or anything else.

If I am wrong about android than fine, that incentive doesn't exist and that removes most of my argument (it is still a possibility but the incentive won't be there).

If you're asking me for my personal experience with such dark patterns on android, I don't have any stories to tell you. None of the apps I use on android are paid for, have ads or subscriptions, much less un-subscription dark patterns. For things like Uber or banking, Google is not a middleman in my transactions with those companies and I've never seen or felt any reason to desire otherwise.

If an app asks you to pay for a subscription and you don't like the payment processor the app uses, then don't use the app. It's really that simple.