The author mentions an audio editor that costs $125 per year as if that in itself is a scam. It might be considered one, I don’t know the app. However audio software can be expensive and value is a very subjective measure. In any case pricing alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor.
Neither should it be up to Apple to decide whether an app is worth whatever it’s asking for - unless there’s actually anything illegal going on. For all I care they could offer a calculator app that costs $999 per month. People don’t have to agree to that and we shouldn’t act as if users aren’t able to understand clear pricing information and the explicit consent that is given via the subscribe button. If they don’t I think that’s on them.
Furthermore speaking of free apps that turn out to be anything but: Is Netflix a scam? I’m sure it’s a top free app in the store and yet I can’t do anything with it unless I’m subscribing to the service.