Not commenting on the merit or otherwise of the specific suggestions, because the only part that really matters is this: "71% budget increase in the Department

Not commenting on the merit or otherwise of the specific suggestions, because the only part that really matters is this: "71% budget increase in the Department of Justice’s antitrust division to investigate big tech monopolies. It’s in Apple’s best interest to be proactive and tackle the antitrust problem itself rather than waiting for the government to step in. " That is: Tim Cook and the Apple board have to weigh up the risks. How likely is it that the justice department will actually come after them in a meaningful way? Can they head that off? Lobbying will be a much more attractive option, commercially and strategically. They will do the least they possibly can to head off any imposed change to the status quo. That the DoJ actually went after Microsoft was very much the exception rather than the rule. Apple will likely learn from that: it's unlikely but not impossible. An enforced breakup would be catastrophic for Apple (even if - possibly - good for the market). Tim Cook certainly wouldn't survive that. OTOH, loosening any of the current constraints will hurt Apple's services play. So this is 100% about risk management for Apple. Neither the welfare of its contributing app developer community, nor "fair" market competition, are remotely first order determinants of outcome. -- EDIT: fixed typo