the cross platform bit was a little disingenuous of me. what i was really trying to say was that in 9 years time from now, apple could deprecate it at the drop

the cross platform bit was a little disingenuous of me. what i was really trying to say was that in 9 years time from now, apple could deprecate it at the drop of a hat. sockets, on the other hand, are likely not going anywhere, and also have the benefit of existing everywhere, as they have for a long time.