The deliberate crippling of third-party stores is a clear example of malicious compliance, something Apple is well known for when facing regulatory pressure.
It's neither new nor surprising. Think about it: the Netherlands' dating app payment pricing trick, South Korea's alternative billing law, the US anti-steering injunction in Epic v. Apple, the Core Technology Fee for the EU's DMA, their ridiculous 'right to repair' process, etc.
What’s striking is how often parts of the discussion around Apple completely ignore this known pattern, instead leaning on apologetic corporate narratives about safety, integrity, privacy, or the environment.
I am against most of the (current!) regulatory pressure on Apple, but regardless of whether one supports these regulations, we can talk honestly about this practices of malicious compliance or even corporate disobedience. They exists in the world regardless of our personal stance on regulation (or Apple).
Generally speaking: If a tech giant does something and there are several possible motives, one of which is profit or power consolidation, and the others are different things, it is always profit/power. They did not start out a giant after all.