Is it programmer blindness? The reason I hate it as a programmer is that I don't see any compelling reason for the store to be not on the web. And it is very inconvenient. So it appears to be bad design, which disturbs the harmony of the cosmos.
How about some business reasons?
- Don't have to test on multiple browsers. - Can upgrade the browser engine automatically with application updates and tie new features to iTunes version - Less risk of HTML hacking (source is much harder to get to), increases entrance barrier - Long term goal of familiarizing Windows users with a mac style interface.
Obviously Apple is doing fine without me as a customer, so what can I say...
however, unless you mean explicitly browsing, in which case i might be inclined to agree because of the iTunes store links that only work in iTunes...that are useless if you don't have iTunes installed.
I am surprised that it is still possible to buy applications for OS X anywhere. Why don't they tie OS X to the iTunes store as well?
In fact, why doesn't Apple just create it's own internet, completely isolated from the real internet?
Edit: one reason I can accept (just barely): pushing apps directly onto the phone if bought in the shop. I still think there should be a way to view the apps available in a browser.
If the players for web don't live up to Apple's standards, why not improve Safari accordingly?
For Iphone apps it might not make as much sense.