> when you develop an app for iOS or macOS, using Apple's APIs, platform and app store tech, it's reasonable to pay Apple something
Is it?
We spent several decades of the PC world, MSDOS and Windows, with zero platform license fees or approvals. This was hugely beneficial for innovation, and this is why everyone hates the sudden rise of platform landlordism.
> You're perfectly entitled to distribute a macOS app with your own paywall
Are you sure the ToS allows that? Given the "anti-steering" rules? Can you point me to an example that isn't by a megacorp?
> $30 per month for 10GB of data in a recent offering I was looking at, and who knows where the data are
That's worse pricing than my mobile contract!
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> Isn't the "outside the app store" bit entirely new, and forced on them by the EU?
No it's always been like this.
> Doesn't change that if you distribute inside the app store, the app store rules ban you from any kind of external payment system.
Yes because you're paying for the payment system amongst other things.
You're perfectly entitled to distribute a macOS app with your own paywall, the same as ever. Nothing has changed from that perspective.
Rent-seeking on SaaS platforms is far worse I think, e.g. $30 per month for 10GB of data in a recent offering I was looking at, and who knows where the data are. Some datacenter in a foreign land with a mad king probably.