Earth's population shouldn't be forced to do something for your sake. If you have a problem like what you mention with your job, solving it for yourself is much better than wanting to force something on everyone. It's very egotistical to even think that another person shouldn't be able to sideload apps because you have a shitty boss or job.
Every corporate IT department configures windows this way
Having the ability to side load gives the ability to people to coerce you into installing things that wouldn’t fly under a single root model.
I do not feel that computing is headed to a good place in terms of privacy and I feel like giving the Googles, Facebooks, and spyware companies more levers to pull is going in the wrong direction. (Well, maybe the right direction under normal circumstances if the tech industry was more ethical)
System permissions aren't tied to the App Store as far as I know (same on Android). You still need to give apps permission to access your camera, mic, location, etc.
While allowing sideloading would bypass Apple's review process (which can be bad), if someone has that type of access to your phone, there's nothing stopping them from installing tracking/spyware apps from the App Store right now.
Tell your employer to give you a work phone then. No way I'm going to install work-related sw on a private device.
What sort of backward country do you live in where that's even remotely legal?
Employers can already sideload through MDM. If anything MDM will give them more control than just an app.
On Android (and Windows/macOS, to a certain extent), the OS asks you if you let <app> access/use <feature> independently of how the app was installed.
Also, can apps monitor your communications on iOS? On Android you can replace the apps that control calls, sms, etc, but that wasn't possible on iOS last time I used it.
I know there are downsides if they allow sideloading, but iOS is very restrictive and Apple would still control iOS. They can add more restrictions and fix flaws if needed.
Employers have enterprise certificates and ability to install custom apps on both iOS and Android, and they can do so while bypassing their respective app stores.
It's pretty simple. Just don't sideload apps.
Or perhaps there could be a setting that you turn on, that disallows sideloading.
If you turn on a setting, that disallows sideloading, then in that case you would have a platform that does what you want.
If sideloading is available, there will be a nonzero number of developers who choose to provide their app only through sideloading, and eschew Apple's App Store.
Some of these will be doing so merely so they don't have to take the extra effort (or pay the extra money) to submit apps to Apple. No malicious intent, but they still won't be reviewed, so unintentional danger can still get through.
Others will be deliberately avoiding Apple's App Review so they can steal your passwords and spy on your banking apps, or hell, just install a rootkit if there's one available at the time.
And still others will be trying to create commercial-grade apps that provide full functionality, but can violate your privacy without asking permission because that's their business model (particularly Facebook and Google).
And some of these will replace apps that are currently available from the App Store, with all the protections that entails. Particularly Facebook and Google.
If we’re going to bring consumer choice into this argument, why can’t the consumer who wants sideloading just vote with their wallet? I’ve yet to read a good argument here for this separation. After all, “nobody is forcing you to buy iPhones except your own weakness and childness.”
You mention how Android isn’t better in that regard, but it’s still an option.
In other words: pay for your tools. Configurable tools for pros cost more.
Some people recognize their weaknesses and pick tools accordingly. You want to take this choice away. Please fuck off.
Sideloading and app permissions are orthogonal.
But one point that is very clear. You belong to a group of users that enjoy the leverage Apple has on developers, and you want it to stay that way
Oh ok. So this has nothing to do with your phone and your choices.
Instead, what you want to do is force other people to do certain things with their own hard work.
Not really sure why you think you should have domain over what other developers do with their own apps.
If you don't like those apps, then don't use them. Problem solved.