I guess I assumed since we're talking public companies here that everyone knows that profits come first. Since "profits come first" for Google, MS, Nokia, Samsung, and everyone else, its not really saying much.
Not true, at least not in a useful sense (that is, without semantic games like "Putting users first is really putting profits first because it makes them money"). Google often turns down options that would squeeze out a little more money at the expense of its users. For example, Google slapped content farms for being worthless even though they seem to be pretty good money-makers.
But, while trying to avoid the semantics arguement, their profits depend on their advertising, which depends on search qualtity. By keeping search qualtity high they are passing over small, short-term profits for long-term ones. Yes the main idea is keeping users happy somthey stick around, but they aren't doing it because they love their users theyre doing it to make a better business.
I never claimed to excuse every Apple business practice or App Store decision. My point was to try to show how if you assume the "average Apple customer" point of view, then you (Apple) may reasonably arrive at platform decisions and policies that aren't popular with app developers.
And much more than trying to apologize for Apple's policies, I was trying to explain the philosophy behind those policies because I think it's a useful thing for developers to understand. And to the extent that someone is arguing with Apple directly ('Letter to Steve Jobs'), then they're arguing philosophy and they may as well save their breath.
