I read many articles like this, protesting that Apple doesn't do this, Apple doesn't do that.<p>Apple isn't a monopoly, by any stretch of the imagination. 13% of the US market in Macs, 25% in mobile phones. Starbucks has a markup of 90%. Named brand spices, 100%. Hotel mini-bars, 400%. But Apple, which built the concept of an App Store, built the platform and the payment infrastructure, advertises and delivers the product, is somehow the bad guy for charging for it.<p>Have you tried asking Walmart how much you would have to pay to sell your product in their store?<p>I understand. Apple targets the high-end, so their consumers tend to be the well-heeled and hence a truly desirable market. It's like being a goat behind a fence, where all of the best green is on the other side. But, to leave the caprine behind us, what would you pay for access to a customer basis like the iPhones, including billing and distribution?<p>It's not as if you have to use the App Store. Deliver your apps via your own web page, advertise accordingly, and implement billing, with the attendant security.<p>Bob is then your uncle.<p>Or sell to the majority market - 75% of mobile, 87% of desktop. You know it makes sense.<p>Until you realise that there is minimal protection against wrongdoers, which makes your market skittish. Nor much support in the way of promotion. Still, most studies state that PC and Android are the way to go if you want peak sales.<p>Just do it.