This is changing the goal posts. Whatever the state of “pre-iPhone mobile platforms” is irrelevant. We are discussing about general software distribution. iPho

This is changing the goal posts. Whatever the state of “pre-iPhone mobile platforms” is irrelevant. We are discussing about general software distribution. iPhones nowadays are much closer to functionality and power to (or significantly eclipsing) normal PCs that people have. And the distribution of software for normal PCs has none of the issue you describe.