I think it’s about optics. They don’t want their App Store to appear stagnant.

I don't know if it's just optics. As a user, I personally don't want to see or download apps that are broken, neglected, or completely left for dead. Maintained apps are usually the best ones right?

>Maintained apps are usually the best ones right?

microsoft windows has been maintained thru to the present, but has become increasingly unusable since Win 7. so, no, false.

Win 3.1 is more usable for me than it has been in years. I’m considering giving Win 98 or even XP another spin.

Similarly, modern third party windows software runs better than ever.

Of course, I run it all under Linux…

[delayed]

Being in control of the OS, can Google in some cases force software authors to rewrite software and "release new versions" by changing/adding/removing APIs, etc.

Because they want developers to use the latest version of their API. And as a user it is a good thing, as the API is getting more restrictive and privacy focused

"Because they want developers to use the latest version of their API."

But the parent commenter's company software did not need to be updated to be useful to the company. Its only purpose was to control hardware made by the company.

As I said, it is useful for the users to have software that is complying with the latest version of the API, and it is good that Google is enforcing it

But the user here is the owner of the software and the hardware and is stating they do not want to keep releasing new versions.