There was a benefit to the consumer of the old no-sideloading world, specifically if it's possible to sideload an app then then companies can force you to do it.
"Hi, this is the company that owns your mortgage. You can now only pay through our app which you have to sideload because it's also a rootkit."
Why do consumers have the attitude "I will buy apple specifically to make you suffer through the apple app store approval process, and I don't give a shit if they take 30%?" The answer is 20 years of abominable behaviour by corporate app teams.
It's an interesting hypothetical, but not realistic in countries with loan regulation. Not to mention, NSO Group has shown us that you can install a rootkit using built-in iMessage and zero-click exploits. I don't think manually-installed malware would lower the current bar, especially considering how "dangerously" capable the phone and web browser already is. Arguing against anything that can be used against the user would see the phone, iPod and internet communicator removed from your iPhone.
> The answer is 20 years of abominable behaviour by corporate app teams.
I feel like you're not going to like my answer to "Why Apple is facing multinational antitrust scrutiny" then.
"Hi, this is the company that owns your mortgage. You can now only pay through our app which you have to sideload because it's also a rootkit."
Why do consumers have the attitude "I will buy apple specifically to make you suffer through the apple app store approval process, and I don't give a shit if they take 30%?" The answer is 20 years of abominable behaviour by corporate app teams.