I have apps in the iOS and Mac App store, so this is a big sticking point form me. But there is one thing missing from the article, which is a discussion on why Apple wouldn't want to add a paid upgrade model to the App Store (iOS or Mac).
Some potential reasons:
- confusing to casual users who aren't used to this model, and might not expect it
- more expensive (users at this point feel entitled to free or very cheap software)
- potential for abuse (random apps will start charging for every minor update)
One way they can prevent abuse is to limit developers, and allow paid upgrades only once a year per app. That sounds like a reasonable compromise to me. I don't want the majority of iOS/Mac users to be scared off from buying apps because they think every app is going to nickel-and-dime them at every bug-fix update or minor features. Once-a-year upgrade (with an option to ignore the update if user wants to and continue using the app as-is) could solve both problems.
About "confusing to casual users who aren't used to this model, and might not expect it":
If we tailor everything to the person with the lowest possible knowledge* , we get two things.
1. Everything around us will be a stupid as we can make it.
2. Eventually a person with even less knowledge will be found.
Some potential reasons:
One way they can prevent abuse is to limit developers, and allow paid upgrades only once a year per app. That sounds like a reasonable compromise to me. I don't want the majority of iOS/Mac users to be scared off from buying apps because they think every app is going to nickel-and-dime them at every bug-fix update or minor features. Once-a-year upgrade (with an option to ignore the update if user wants to and continue using the app as-is) could solve both problems.