3s > 2048! But 2048 is more popular?! How did it happen? I've heard this story before.

I think the author of 3s screwed up by going iOS first. There are millions of hungry Android devs out there. If you release a game that's iOS only, and it turns out to be really popular, and it has fairly simple game logic... there will be an Android clone in under 24 hours.

It's a cautionary tale. Release on iOS first at your own risk.