> You literally don’t have a way to get unto iOS devices w/o the App Store.
Yes, and that's the problem that needs solving. If Apple allowed sideloading apps, every single of their justifications about App Store rules would start making sense. You either pay 30% and get a nice listing and discoverability, or you pay nothing but are completely on your own.
Or, you know, go to Android with 70%+ global market share.[1]
If you really want to make a radio for Lamborghini's, but they say no, then you go to a different manufacturer. "oh but Lambo owners have so much spend/revenue per owner" doesn't really hold water.
This is less weird that it might seem on the surface. If you've ever commissioned an expensive peiece of art there's usually a line in the contract that says something to the effect of "if the art is damaged, you will give $artist preference for repair" because if you get it shoddily fixed it looks bad on them.
I said it many times and I'll say it again: it's not a choice you get to make as a company or an individual that has a service that needs an app. If you're to have any semblance of success, you can't only have an Android app.
As far as my personal preferences go, I use Android since 2011 and can't fathom switching to iOS.
Yes, and that's the problem that needs solving. If Apple allowed sideloading apps, every single of their justifications about App Store rules would start making sense. You either pay 30% and get a nice listing and discoverability, or you pay nothing but are completely on your own.