Yes, you’re right that much of this only comes up when you’re trying to charge money for an app.
However, if you’re running your own website you can make those decisions on your own without being forced into most of them.
Plenty of very large “reputable” companies obfuscate their physical address and phone number, and don’t even offer an email address for contact.
I’d also say that this shouldn’t be as necessary when an app platform is involved. Apple takes 15-30% of the revenue and acts as a full retailer. Why do App Store customers have any need to contact the underlying developers in this scenario?
Walmart doesn’t make it easy/possible for me to contact the manufacturer of their t-shirts.
There are even other digital software stores like GOG or Steam that really aren’t selling you software that has a guaranteed point of contact.
Those platforms just have a half-decent to decent return policy and act as the middleman.
But when you’re on iOS you have all the burdens of a third-party supplier without all the benefits.
However, if you’re running your own website you can make those decisions on your own without being forced into most of them.
Plenty of very large “reputable” companies obfuscate their physical address and phone number, and don’t even offer an email address for contact.
I’d also say that this shouldn’t be as necessary when an app platform is involved. Apple takes 15-30% of the revenue and acts as a full retailer. Why do App Store customers have any need to contact the underlying developers in this scenario?
Walmart doesn’t make it easy/possible for me to contact the manufacturer of their t-shirts.
There are even other digital software stores like GOG or Steam that really aren’t selling you software that has a guaranteed point of contact.
Those platforms just have a half-decent to decent return policy and act as the middleman.
But when you’re on iOS you have all the burdens of a third-party supplier without all the benefits.