I do see value in restricting redundant apps: it encourages developers to expand the platform's potential. It also means that a number like "3000 apps availabl

I do see value in restricting redundant apps: it encourages developers to expand the platform's potential. It also means that a number like "3000 apps available for the iPhone" carries more weight, as those are 3000 unique capabilities added. However, the onus is then on Apple to provide extensions to their "standard" applications. Don't want me to recreate Mail.app? Fine, but give me some APIs to expand Mail.app with new behaviors. Apple's already done this on the Mac to an extent, e.g. allowing programs to integrate with the iLife suite. I don't know what the iPhone offers in this area.