They are just playing the game as Apple built it to be played. They were just playing it a little bit to well. Apple doesn't want to see high quality apps with sustainable growth, they don't not want to see that either, but what they really want to see impulse-buy shovelware that keeps lots of money flowing in every day from kids pockets who have the most disposable income and interact with iOS the most. If AppGratis is twisting the game so that they are receiving the marketing money, and they're building more analytics by capturing the market, then Apple is not very happy. I think this is pretty clear and transparent.
Luckily, we can all wax poetic about how much better we are than the system we live in an participate in. My ego could also use a boost, so I will join in this pointless "I totally agree" thread.
Seriously though, can we actually discuss solutions instead of another circle jerk thread where we all nod our heads and agree about problems that have been known for a long time now?
American politics are diversionary because that's what it takes to get votes into the polls. There is little power in voting, we live in a democratic republic. The people we vote on do the real thinking, thank god.