I think it's fair to also cover the fairly rigorous testing that occurs for each app store submission. I'm not sure a hundred bucks is the right number, but it's not fair to say all they do is host the file.
By "fairly rigorous", do you mean "fickle, random"?
Recently I had an app for a customer. Approved easily by Apple. Rejected by Google.
The reason given by Google was completely meaningless in the context of the app. When this happens, I usually make a bullshit change, increment the version, and submit again. That was also rejected in this case. I asked for more info and they provided a meaningless screenshot of the app - that was all. So I appealed. That was also useless! They provided no info to help.
Eventually I just created a new Google Play account and re-submitted a new version of the app, and it was accepted near immediately.
I've had some annoying experiences with Apples review process but it is gold compared to Google Play.
You can only sideload for free if you are willing to reinstall every X days.
They don't need to test an app if you're not asking them to distribute it through their store.
There are simpler and more usable options that are more defensible than what they do today.
That, in their opinion, makes it their job to prevent people from permanently installing software on other people’s phones. I’m sure they would remove the “permanently” if they could, but developers have to test builds so frequently that they can’t review them all.
Does this mean you lose data, or is data retained when reinstalling?
I should be able to self-sign an app for longer than a week on a free developer account.
whats the value add of rigourously validating an app that youre only running on your own phone?