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OSM-the-database needs a general public app where contribution is possible to finally be popular.

Organic was seen by many as this app, despite its specific choices like being offline.

Contributing to this app is hence very important for OSM to exist given Google & Apple Maps.

FYI the OSM foundation will probably always be reluctant to sponsor or appear to prefer a certain end-user app. I don't know exactly why, but they really do see themselves as a vendor agnostic database, and don't want to make a popular website or mobile app that actually gets traction any time soon.

But yes I agree with you.

I would say that current situation is an example of some risks that would appear in case of officially endorsing specific project

Option to contribute & offline-first is not mutually exclusive:

Use map data offline, user makes a correction/addition, upload that when app has internet access.

In fact, Organic already works like that.

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