I think some of that "proof" goes beyond "web". I.e. there is a way to deliver apps without going through gatekeepers, but a major gatekeeper is blocking that.

Innovation being actively blocked today, includes streaming games and other apps, cloud hosted apps, etc. And we will never know how much innovation is being blocked if there is always a gatekeeper.

This innovation freeze isn't just about "web" technology. It is blocking whole business models today.

And there is no reason "web" technologies, when free to improve, can't acheive parity or near parity with native apps in the future, with regard to performance, security, aesthetics, etc.

"Web" is just a historical starting place, not an impediment to future capabilities.