This needs more upvotes! People are missing the point.
People that are use to living in Apple controlled walled-gardens dont understand that being removed from the play store doesn't mean much.
Their apps can still be listed in alternate app stores as well as download directly and installed directly (its trivial to install an apk which has been downloaded. Things are especially easy if you have a rooted phone, which I'm assuming most HN Android users do.
That's the major proponent of using Android for me. Just like my computer I am free to modify is and install any software I want.
I'm sure if the App Store even ever approved an Ad Block app it's long gone by now. Can any iPhone users comment on this?
Exactly. I'm all in favor of ad blocker software, but if you want to use it why should your preferred walled-garden provider be responsible for giving it to you. Install software you control. It's better for all of us.
If Google or Apple wants to make money with a walled garden and (in Android's case) subsidize our use of the open source result, then I think that's a pretty good bargain. IMHO, our part of that is letting Google play in its walled garden as long as their part (AOSP) is intact.
