> Apple gear is no longer as comparatively expensive as it used to be
It still is if one can't afford it. Apple could provide macOS and iOS VirtualBox images for developers to build and test their apps.
> why complicate their business model to give themselves more work for less money.
Because that's the right thing to do when you shut out indie developers using expensive equipment and annual developer fees.
Developers who aren't affluent or don't get into app development solely for profit may stay away from the Apple ecosystem, and that's a loss for everyone.
Apple is now also selling access to their user base on macOS. Apps distributed outside the Mac App Store must be notarized to run on macOS, which requires a developer account ($99/yr). Yes, workarounds do exist for now, but all of them are inconvenient enough that they seriously hurt the distribution of open source apps, unless maintainers pay up.
It still is if one can't afford it. Apple could provide macOS and iOS VirtualBox images for developers to build and test their apps.
> why complicate their business model to give themselves more work for less money.
Because that's the right thing to do when you shut out indie developers using expensive equipment and annual developer fees.
Developers who aren't affluent or don't get into app development solely for profit may stay away from the Apple ecosystem, and that's a loss for everyone.
Apple is now also selling access to their user base on macOS. Apps distributed outside the Mac App Store must be notarized to run on macOS, which requires a developer account ($99/yr). Yes, workarounds do exist for now, but all of them are inconvenient enough that they seriously hurt the distribution of open source apps, unless maintainers pay up.