Is this true? I've yet to actually sell anything on either platform, but my understanding is that Apple is the seller of apps on the App Store, and makers are simply publishers who effectively get a royalty check. The Google Play store, in contrast, has Google acting as a facilitator but far more falls on the laps of app makers.

Apple makes a 30% cut of your app, but while Google takes a 30% cut apparently they give most if not all of this to...oddly enough...telcos? (This is still incredibly fuzzy and I know of no sources, beyond various Google claims that they get just a small administrative charge) That may explain the service difference.

Recall that there was a bit of a hoopla because Google shares customer data with app makers, because again the sale is between the app maker and the customer (which is something that very few app buyers expect or understand).

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ... - "Distribution partners"?

no it isn't, apple pay the 15% Luxembourg sales tax for you.