It’s cheaper to build multiple native applications than one responsive web app

Deliver the project got easier; "Control the customer" got significantly harder. You've now got someone's app store in the middle of your customer relationships and are exposed to approval drama, various forms of revenue squeeze, and other meddling from the platform owner. What happens if the folks running the platform decide to launch their own offering?

Speaking as another small developer, our solution to the cross-browser feature support is simple: anything that doesn't run on most modern browsers doesn't make the final design. If the customer doesn't bite on basic design, we don't expect a miraculous shift with the latest widgets.

You can do this with PhoneGap.

"Multiple line ellipsis? Sure, but only on webkit."

Okay, yeah, this sucks.

"Consistent rendering size across browsers? Just fuck off."

This is probably your fault.

"We fix a layout bug on Safari and break something on Edge."

This is probably your fault.

"We change font size on Chrome and now all you can see on Firefox is the letter F."

This is probably your fault.

"How about hiding the address bar or controlling swipes from the left edge of the screen? Don’t be stupid."

Stop trying to make the browser not a browser. Users hate when you hijack expected behavior. (See: Imgur.)

"Oh, and don’t get me started on all these new custom mobile keyboards you can use and how autocomplete can fuck with your input box events."

You can disable autocomplete. Did you mean predictive word suggestions?

TL;DR: "We tried to make a responsive web app act like a native app and it didn't work because it doesn't work, and that makes me a grumpy goose."

1. The cost of building an app can be calculated in the back of a napkin. The cost of a web app that works consistently across devices? Not so much.

2. The cost of building backend services has been commoditised to a degree. Front end web development? Its downright hard finding someone that can do good front end web work.

3. The reality that big companies (silos) will push their agenda over anything else and win.