This is quite presumptuous of them. I find iOS a bit backwards and unintuitive compare to Android, not to mention I find their practices the worst of all evils (and I'm far from being an ideologist).
Then it should be just a matter of parsing a bunch of plist files and a few SQLite databases.
If you look at Apple's practices you can't find a single one that google doesn't emulate.
BTW, the restrictions on the App Store? They are there on the Play store as well.
The ability to develop Apps and run them on any device outside the store-- Has been on the iPhone since day one. Back when google was making blackberry clones you could release iPhone apps on the web (built using a Javascript/HTML/CSS platform, that web developers claim is the best anyway with hooks into the iOS API and phone capabilities).... but people hated it.
People here on Hacker News screamed bloody murder because they wanted native access to the hardware on iOS. So, Apple built it and the App Store. but they never got rid of the prior web based SDK and it's still there. You can build apps, install them on users phones and completely bypass the App Store.
But you ideologists just ignore that because you want to bash the App Store.
Best case you're think we'll believe you're not biased. Worst case, you're deluding yourself.
Neither choice is a good one.