This is about the 30% issue - kind of. You know how Apple is slowly moving toward requiring a 30% cut of pretty much anything that touches iOS? I don’t really know if this is fair, or smart, or a good policy. It doesn’t affect me personally or professionally, so all I can share is a tiny and mostly irrelevant observation.

I prefer the Apple that makes its money by creating great, high-end, high-margin products and selling them directly to consumers. I am less fond of an Apple that makes money by striking or demanding dubious business deals. Forget my personal biases - I’m just saying, the former Apple would be interested in delivering stuff I would buy with my money and put in my pocket or my living room. The latter Apple would have more to gain by fleecing the supply and shoveling whatevers at me. You know who that reminds me of? Google. And I don’t like that.

Apple can, of course, do both things - build great products and cut contract throats. But with this 30% thing, the 30% I’m really interested in is, will Apple eventually see 30% of its revenue come from various cuts, percentages, deals, and obligations? If so, that means a different focus for the company - a focus on things and people farther removed from me and you. And that makes me a bit bummed out.

So does it ultimately matter that I feel this way? Only in the way that the opinions of any non-decision-maker matter. Hopefully it’s food for thought for someone with more power.