Apple's store is not really a "marketplace" - at least not a free market. There's no competition allowed, in a market that's everywhere else free and open.
And as for Infrastructure - what does Apple own except the web site? They don't own the iPhone - I bought mine for cash, I own it. They don't own the network - ATT and Verizon own that, and I contract to them. They don't own the apps - they just try to.
That leaves them in the position of market predator - trying to make a buck by warping the market in their favor, throwing up roadblocks to anyone using their own hardware on their rented network for anything that Apple can't scam a buck from.
And how did those apps get on your phone? That's the infrastructure part. Those apps can be sold in 100+ countries around the world with payments processed and on a platform that Apple is selling with catchy commercials and by ensuring a certain level of quality. That's the infrastructure and value Apple is adding with the app store. Do you seriously think there would be 350,000 apps for the iPhone if each developer had to set up distribution and payment handling for 100+ countries around the world, and be able to do it for small payment amounts ($0.99)?
Yeah, but people on this site are pretty familiar with putting up a web sales site, and aren't going to be very impressed by that - certainly not to the point of paying their entire margin to Apple for it.
Yes its a popular site - hey! could that be because its the only site?
And as for Infrastructure - what does Apple own except the web site? They don't own the iPhone - I bought mine for cash, I own it. They don't own the network - ATT and Verizon own that, and I contract to them. They don't own the apps - they just try to.
That leaves them in the position of market predator - trying to make a buck by warping the market in their favor, throwing up roadblocks to anyone using their own hardware on their rented network for anything that Apple can't scam a buck from.