I would love it if public companies were forced to take a niche and stick with it - because the horizontal integration becomes a major anti-competitive tool. Imagine if iOS was developed independently and available for other phone makers as an Android competitor, the iPhone just being one of them. The App Store could be its own thing, as could Apple Music. AirPods could be its own business. Sure, things might be less integrated and tight-knit, but the market would be far more competitive.
At this point I'm almost willing to say horizontal integration is the source of so many competitive problems and anti-consumer behavior.
At this point I'm almost willing to say horizontal integration is the source of so many competitive problems and anti-consumer behavior.