Well, there's at least an implicit expectation that a "platform" farming out work to (and taking a cut from) 3rd party developers should be neutral with regard

Well, there's at least an implicit expectation that a "platform" farming out work to (and taking a cut from) 3rd party developers should be neutral with regard to app ratings and popularity Apple wants to have its cake and eat it to (have a non-neutral platform that favors only them while implying the platform is neutral to their money cows).