If this was actually about security instead of control, Apple could compromise: Allow third party app stores to exist, but Apple gets to sign the third party store app itself (and can set minimum requirements like app review).<p>It may sound counter-intuitive, but the whole issue here is that Apple is using their store for anti-competitive things (e.g. blocking/slowing competitors, requiring the use of Apple's payment infrastructure, Apple's ads, etc).<p>If third party stores could exist, you wouldn't need side loading, and security isn't completely compromised as hopefully the third party store provides <i>some</i> level of assurance (Vs. essentially none with side loading).<p>This of course won't happen because it is absolutely about <i>control</i>. Apple may one day allow side loading but will make the process incredibly unpleasant citing For Security Reasons™ as their justification.