Just look at this article: it doesn't say "a third mobile OS can't challenge..." but "a European mobile OS can't challenge...". They aren't even shooting for "good" anymore, just "European"
That's the original NextWeb article title.
This can also be interpreted differently: there is so much distrust with respect to the privacy that US or Chinese products provide that it does not have to be "good" to still get accepted.
Does this mean that EU apps all charge subscriptions or are advertising heavy in order to provide their service and data privacy?
They are not charities so if they are not selling their data, they have to be making money some other way
My experience is different: I know quite some people who are very vocal about how much they distrust the apps, but are very consequential in their actions: they at least strongly avoid using such apps; sometimes they even attempt to cease staying in contact with people who broadcast sensitive data around by using particular apps.