A curated app store doesn't need to be profitable to be useful for both users and developers. Example: F-Droid.
If you want F-Droid, Apple isn’t stopping you.
Yeah they are.
No they are not. One can write / use a progressive web app and have the app installed and running without the need of an App Store at all.
“Progressive Web App” is not an app. It’s a website, and it’s moronic to pretend otherwise.
No they aren’t. If you want F-Droid, buy an android phone. Apple can’t stop you.
Why should others go out of their way to satisfy your preferences before accomplishing what they want? If you want to get apps exclusively from the App Store, just do so. Apple will certainly keep that option available and easy to choose for you.
I want F-Droid on iOS. Apple is preventing that, but looks like not for long.