As an app developer, let me just say that it’s no delight to publish something free—completely free without ads. Users are incredibly entitled and will want more, leaving poor ratings. And you won’t make it in the search results without revenue, ad placement, high ratings and frequent updates.
So, organically, because ultimately what people collectively want is an app that is heavily invested into, the apps become ad-riddled or subscription based because it’s the only way to fund a team that can maintain an app that reaches the top of the lists.
I personally put 50% of the blame on the app stores for promoting in the manner that they do, and 50% of the blame on users for being entitled shits.
CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 5 days ago
I understand the economics are challenging but it’s been a race to the bottom. There were and still are some really high quality apps, but so many trash!