Apple built a platform and wants to extract value from that platform. It seems perfectly reasonable to me.
Maybe. But that already happens w/ free and "pro", etc.. I expect that the marketplace would sort that out. When everything is a come-on genuine offerings start to have more appeal.
>Apple built a platform and wants to extract value from that platform.
Sure. No problems with that as long as there is some value they are providing. At least in the case of a paid app, once that sale is made Apple shouldn't be involved unless they are doing something useful.
I don't see evidence of excessive margins on hardware; I see a company that's planned for and executed on proper margins.
You mean besides maintaining and securing the entire distribution network and ecosystem that makes such apps profitable in the first place?
But they can’t get a cut of in-app payments, especially for Kindle stuff.
Also, what if I say for every user who buys an autogram card they get premium of the app for free?
Is that enough to get around them getting a cut?
This is a big legal issue.
Apple keeps iOS desirable to an enormous number of end users who are willing to spend money on apps.
They benefit from this by selling a lot of iPhones, but the developers benefit as well by having a market to target.