>It's actually more simple: they're protecting their own users from being ripped off, by being charged a premium because they're iOS users

Apple is trying to protect their own users from being ripped off by Apple? That's some _really_ twisted logic there.

That rule is in place to safeguard their 30% cut. I don't see how the user benefits from having to pay 30% extra instead of getting a 30% discount on the same supplier's website instead of paying Apple the tax.