The download of new apps may decline, but with Google Instant Apps arriving, more users will use apps without installing.
The problem is most internet/computing usage is done on mobile. Increasingly, this information is inside of Apps. This makes Google's search results less and less effective overtime.
That is, unless I can click on a google search result and end up in the middle of an app I've never downloaded.
I think a better criticism is that Instant Apps is attempting to rebuild internet, using apps. A destination I can go to, and only download what I need to run the experience in that view? And I can still click on other things and load those when I need it? It's called surfing the web, dude.
Google's problem, not users.
At what point is it pointless to have such an "instant app" service for general consumers? Why not just have a web app in that case? Then you can do cross platforming instead of having multiple teams. It makes sense for enterprise because it can lower cost of sysadmin, security, etc...not seeing the benefits of it for general consumers on either side of the issue.
I also don't think that relates to the article. Apps will still measure their success on MAUs not downloads.