I agree it changes things. And yes, it is far from simple.
I wish most would understand that. Many believe it's either already written/tested/working in some lab waiting for the day to be approved and "boom!" its in the next iOS update.
On that aspect we differ. I don’t see Apple longer as creating that security/privacy leading system that has been marketed and alluded to.
Again, never said it was perfect. It isn't. It's better by default due to it not having access by all these other means. You have to go to the store, one doorway in to the system (garden). The walls are high, but again nothing is perfect.
In regards for supporting 3rd party stores … why would they?
They wouldn't want to for sure. But, there could be laws that "force" them too.
That would be the responsibility of the 3rd party. Just like most apps today, if it breaks on an OS update, it is the app creator who (in most cases) who has to come up with a fix. Not Apple.
Most cases is not all. If Apple makes a mistake, its one thing. If Apple is found to have done something to break it, there will be lawsuits. This is a flip of a coin type situation. As in the gray space, Apple could be trying to fix a serious problem, and that solution breaks a 3rd party App Store. Or the apps from that store. A problem that didn't exist before is now an issue that regulators can deem on purpose by Apple to break 3rd-Party stuff. While claiming it is a critical update to prevent the next major wave of whateverWARE that comes. Whom do we believe is telling the truth?
End of the day, if sideloading is forced on Apple, or if they adopt a version of it voluntarily, it is up to the user to use it or not. Most won’t. Some will.
While on the surface this is the case. The reality is very different. Example. Say you purchase a firewall from company A. You only allow 443 traffic in and out and that's it. Everything else is blocked/off/disabled. As expected you're only vulnerable to what comes in on that port. And of course the vulnerabilities of the firewall. I.E the port is the AppStore, and firewall being iOS in this example.
Now, you are forced to open up port 80 (3rd party store access). You can wall it off to exactly the location you want, the server or workstation you want etc. You can even turn it off by default, and allow it when you want it with a simple toggle switch. Great, everything is fine. We can all live with our existing secure method of getting apps. And if "we" as an individual decide to go with this 3rd party store. We can toggle a switch and we are granted that access. Wonderful, solves all the issues right? Well, no.
Since the original firewall has vulnerabilities, as all computer things do in this world. You have to protect, and patch that firewall at all times (iOS). It's what's keeping out all the mess in the world from affecting your systems behind it. It's a task in and of itself to do well. However, you at least had a very limited way in when just 443 was open. You maybe vulnerable to exploits over port 80 as the device is vulnerable to it. BUT, you never had that port on to begin with. Basically, the feature of having port 80 "their" wasn't enabled. It did not exist in the code of iOS. To the firewall, the option isn't even there. Its like it doesn't even understand what port 80 is. It only knows what port 443 is. Nothing else existed. Now, you have something there, the firewall knows about port 80, and its vulnerable to an attack on port 80. Your iOS device maybe toggled off on 3rd party appstore/sideloading. But, the OS is accepting traffic on that port and is vulnerable to the right exploit. Maybe it takes one text message or email, or link to enable that toggle on your device. And until Apple is aware and fixes the vulnerability. You're exposed. Doesn't mean you will get hacked, it means you're more likely to. Even if you didn't want to turn that switch on in the first place. The OS you use now has another way in. Even off. Since no software is perfect either. And you can bet that the hackers of the world will want to be first to crack in. It's too big a target to not try.
What I find disheartening, is your apparent understanding of the Android world.
I'm ok with that.
Superfragmented is not a result of sideloading or payment systems. Why you attempt to use this to support your argument makes that plain.
I didn't realize I had. I didn't believe I stated that Superframentation is a result of side loading or payment systems. I believe I stated it as a reason for choice. You can choose from say a Pixel phone or a Samsung phone and get all the updates as they are released. Or you can pick some cheap-Bepo android OS phone and maybe not get those updates or patches in a timely manner. You have a choice. You can pay less and get less, you can pay more and get more. Or you can go closed off (by choice) to Apple. And I for one don't feel as those Apple should be forced to play in someone else's playground if they don't want to. They are free to try and survive in a walled garden so long as they are not breaking any rules to do so.