Apple Now Has More Than 2.35 Billion Active Devices Worldwide

It feels like half of that count is my devices!

That is a legit criticism of Apple that is being thrown around here - that Apple has so small a market share that they run the risk of irrelevancy any day now.

Maybe you and the other guy could get together and trash out your takes to come out with a single, more internally consistent narrative, IMO. Apple is somehow perennially one flop away from failure, while also being large enough to warrant regulation.

Schrodinger’s Apple? [emoji1787]

One of Bill Gates' arguments in the 1990s was that Microsoft was one bad Windows/OS release away from potential failure and therefore didn't deserve antitrust scrutiny. However, that didn't mean then nor does it mean today that a company with significant market power, control, influence, etc. should be immune to regulation or be allowed to engage in anticompetitive behavior. Just because a company may fail or become irrelevant in the future doesn't mean they should be exempt from laws in the present.

Apple currently has significant market power, control, influence, etc. in the mobile OS and app store markets and deserves antitrust/competition law scrutiny.

active iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple devices worldwide

active I assume means devices with an internet connection, right? or would it include eg AirPods? Though no direct internet, I assume those being paired and used might get counted?

“But but but… they’ e got just a small minority market share, so should get a free pass on antitrust & competition regulation”

That is a legit criticism of Apple that is being thrown around here - that Apple has so small a market share that they run the risk of irrelevancy any day now.

Maybe you and the other guy could get together and trash out your takes to come out with a single, more internally consistent narrative, IMO. Apple is somehow perennially one flop away from failure, while also being large enough to warrant regulation.

Schrodinger’s Apple? [emoji1787]

My wife - and bank account — would argue I make up a large percentage.