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Comment by numair | Hacker News Reader

If I’m reading this right, it’ll be possible for “reader” apps to link to an off-app signup page directly from the launch screen (correct me if I’m wrong). Which means that you’ll be able to compare the friction of multi screen payment versus one-touch TouchID/FaceID payments to determine what makes you more money (because sometimes those conversion drop-off rates will be greater than the 30% Apple fee).

If this is accurate, this is an incremental move toward sanity. Still not enough, though; I’d like to run my own App Store, and I think my $2000 payment to buy my iPhone was more than enough of a fee to make this possible.

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> ...I think my $2000 payment to buy my iPhone was more than enough of a fee to make this possible.

Being deeply ambivalent about this issue, you've just now most closely articulated my position. Thank you.

I have no idea what a reasonable App Store fee should be. But 30% seems excessive.

Further, I despise the entire payments racket. I'm paying MasterCard, Apple, Stripe, whomever to use my own money. Grrr.

That said:

I absolutely want to always use something like Apple Pay for everything. Touch ID, plus secure enclave, plus token exchange (vs plaintext), etc.

I don't care if others want to use something other than Apple Pay (and whatever the Android equivalent is). There should be options.

Further:

App Store needs a rethink.

Apple's recent move to charge less for low volume revenue is backwards. If apps were physical things, shouldn't the cost go down as volume goes up?

So I'd rather Apple focus on raising the asking price for apps. Especially for smaller indie devs (publishers). Or be more flexible. Or...?

Apple is getting their bullshit encoded into law. That’s enraging.

> you’ll be able to compare the friction of multi screen payment versus one-touch TouchID/FaceID .... sometimes those conversion drop-off rates will be greater than the 30% Apple fee

That can be countered by adding the 30% Apple Tax for those who opt to pay using "Apple Pay". If you have to pay "$x + 30%" on Apple Pay vs only "$x" through another payment system, the consumer will obviously think twice.

> I’d like to run my own App Store

Someone should really build an alternative App Store, and complain to regulators that it's not allowed. Then we'd have a serious case.

The browser-ballot screen would not have been a thing if there were no alternatives to IE.

Until legislature catches up with privacy needs of the consumer I don’t want flood gates to open at all.

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