I'm not sure he's correct about this. As I understand it, software downloaded through the App Store is rather easily pirated if you know what/where to copy it.
I think Apple is solving the problem from the opposite direction. Rather than try to prevent users from pirating software, they're A) making software prices far more accessible, and B) making the purchase and acquisition (download) of software ridiculously easy.
This is built upon the theory that people generally want to do the right thing. Apple has (more or less) proved this with the success of the iTMS. If given a good value proposition and low barrier of execution, most people will purchase their music legitimately. Having said that, there will always be pirates, but this same theory says that "pirates will be pirates", and they never would have bought the software to begin with.
If you can make your millions on legitimate users, why waste time crying over spilt milk? With the App Store, Apple is trying to bring to Mac software what iTMS and the iOS App Store brought to their respective markets.