I cannot help but wonder if "apps" aren't going to eventually replace package managers. That's certainly what Docker-like containers try to do.
It might sound crazy when you consider some of the services typically installed with a package manager but ultimately there's no reason why an "app" cannot run in root, many root packages aren't actually installing drivers, they're only root for historical reasons (e.g. being able to read/write to /etc).
Why, for example, couldn't a web server be an app? Or a DNS client? Or a DNS server? Sure, there are certain system services which cannot (anything installing drivers/filter drivers/core UI/sound subsystem/graphics subsystem) but MOST things can.
It might sound crazy when you consider some of the services typically installed with a package manager but ultimately there's no reason why an "app" cannot run in root, many root packages aren't actually installing drivers, they're only root for historical reasons (e.g. being able to read/write to /etc).
Why, for example, couldn't a web server be an app? Or a DNS client? Or a DNS server? Sure, there are certain system services which cannot (anything installing drivers/filter drivers/core UI/sound subsystem/graphics subsystem) but MOST things can.