Apple so far has shown no mercy when it came to small companies, or even with big ones (see Adobe's Flash, RIP).<p>With HEY, Apple is again, picking on a small company, but probably the biggest one so far. Basecamp isn't Adobe.<p>Apple is also probably facing an upcoming EU investigation.<p>So far Apple had no reason whatsoever to acknowledge indie developers' needs (in that context). But HEY is different. With HEY, Apple has a chance to get a shit load of great PR for "showing mercy" for what is widely considered and comparatively speaking, a small company.<p>If they let HEY off the hook, they lose a buck or two, nothing that they're going to notice, BUT, get the PR they need for whatever's coming their way from the regulators, and a ton of developers, and some of the public.