I'm not sure a single individual owning multiple products from the same company is the typical way "network effect" is used. The protocol example is a good one

I'm not sure a single individual owning multiple products from the same company is the typical way "network effect" is used. The protocol example is a good one. However I don't think it's the network effect that's beneficial in that case but rather the innovation of the thing that was built. If it's closed, I think that facet specifically is detrimental to the consumer. If it's open, then that's the best you can do to mitigate the unfortunate reality that taking advantage of this particular innovation requires multiple participating endpoints. It's just how it is.