>Both of those statements can't be true at the same time
Why? Both of those statements can be true but I don't think the only options are the 2 that you're describing.
To me, it's more like the value proposition that Costco offers than it is selling customers as assets. Costco members pay a fee every year to stay on as members. Businesses want to put their products in Costco stores because Costco members spend money more liberally than in normal stores. Whereas Walmart shoppers are always looking for the lowest cost, Costco shoppers tend to shop for higher quality items and are willing to pay for them. Costco is not necessarily selling its customers to these businesses but access to them is limited because Costco sets certain standards for the limited space they have in their warehouses. So, in that sense, when companies are vying for the "access to [their] userbase", doesn't Costco also "have it both ways"?
Both of your statements are true in the case of Costco so why is it somehow impossible for them to be true in Apple's case as well? If the customer's appreciate Apple and Costco serving as gatekeepers (because they trust them to perform that task) then neither Costco or Apple are violating the trust of their users while still keeping that moral leg up.
Why? Both of those statements can be true but I don't think the only options are the 2 that you're describing.
To me, it's more like the value proposition that Costco offers than it is selling customers as assets. Costco members pay a fee every year to stay on as members. Businesses want to put their products in Costco stores because Costco members spend money more liberally than in normal stores. Whereas Walmart shoppers are always looking for the lowest cost, Costco shoppers tend to shop for higher quality items and are willing to pay for them. Costco is not necessarily selling its customers to these businesses but access to them is limited because Costco sets certain standards for the limited space they have in their warehouses. So, in that sense, when companies are vying for the "access to [their] userbase", doesn't Costco also "have it both ways"?
Both of your statements are true in the case of Costco so why is it somehow impossible for them to be true in Apple's case as well? If the customer's appreciate Apple and Costco serving as gatekeepers (because they trust them to perform that task) then neither Costco or Apple are violating the trust of their users while still keeping that moral leg up.