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You mean they wanted there to be no confusion whatsoever that they wouldn't allow competition in their ecosystem.

The exemption requested was temporary.

EU response said it was "for a minimum of 18 months" — does not sound temporary to me.

How is that not temporary? "Ok, you asked for an exemption for a minimum of 18 months, we're granting you what you asked for, an 18 month exemption".

By now, Apple has accrued years of malicious DMA/DSA compliance. After those 18 months they'll try to find another reason not to allow competition.

Besides that, the law is the law and the DMA/DSA has been around for years. Why should they get an exception is one part of a duopoly?

The 18 months was to entrench themselves in favor of other players.