> Apple is buying up its supply chain AND other platforms copy Apple's tactics

Do they? Has Google/Android (or even Apple for that matter) gotten much worse in that regard over the last 10 years?

You can switch to making desktop, web, enterprise, video game etc. software. Or something more specialized. I mean yeah, I understand the issues you're talking about and I don't think they are not important. However it's not entirely black and white. And I don't think the situation really comparable to low wage/skill gig-workers who generally have almost no real choice whom to work for.

Are there really less viable (openish) platforms to build your software for than 10/20/30/40 years ago? I'm pretty certain that the answer is not that obvious as you seem to be implying.

Apple has gotten a larger market share and has implemented some new app store policies re: their 30% cut, but otherwise I think you're right that the landscape hasn't drastically changed.