I think the truth is that if you're making a free game, you have to put an incredible amount of consideration into replay value and how to keep people playing for long periods (and then how to extract money from them :/ ).
Otherwise you make a paid game and hope an Apple-featuring makes you enough.
I wonder what would happen if app games were run like desktop MMORPGs, where there is a monthly fee. That fee could even be paid via a site, also freeing the app of Apple's cut.
How man SaaS companies have monthly fees with free apps? Then, after you login, the features that you have paid for are available. I can think of plenty.
Otherwise you make a paid game and hope an Apple-featuring makes you enough.