Just the framing of "browser extensions" is extremely problematic in the year 2024.
Most browser extensions by weight are Google Chrome extensions. Google Chrome is unambiguously demonstrating that no API is safe in its quest to juice revenues. Anybody who builds extensions using Chrome's APIs should be very aware that they're quite possibly putting effort into something a juggernaut will stomp away without a second thought.
I don't care to live in strategically lost situations like this, so I think the conversation should be about Firefox extensions. Which also don't have a great track record (the transition to Google Chrome compatibility a few short years ago still annoys me greatly), but are a qualitatively better counter-party to deal with.
Most browser extensions by weight are Google Chrome extensions. Google Chrome is unambiguously demonstrating that no API is safe in its quest to juice revenues. Anybody who builds extensions using Chrome's APIs should be very aware that they're quite possibly putting effort into something a juggernaut will stomp away without a second thought.
I don't care to live in strategically lost situations like this, so I think the conversation should be about Firefox extensions. Which also don't have a great track record (the transition to Google Chrome compatibility a few short years ago still annoys me greatly), but are a qualitatively better counter-party to deal with.