Call me old fashioned, but I fail to see how implementing a corporate middleman between developers and users can be a progress... OK, from a developer's stand point, this could be really beneficial (distribution, centralization etc), but as a user, it feels like seeing independent record stores about to be crushed by a shiny new Virgin Megastore. I can't help to hope this will be an immense failure
distribution already exists! it's called the internet. fire up a website, have a downloadable app, and you're done. I don't understand why people keep saying the same for "app stores" like iphone and android, and now osx too. why can't I just search for an app on a search engine, goto that apps website, download it and run/install it? how does this system benefit me as a user at all?
I don't trust you that your website isn't spam.
I don't trust you with my credit card number.
I don't trust you that your program is well made and follows conventions.
I don't trust you that you won't install a Trojan on my machine.
I don't trust you that you won't put Adware all over.
I don't trust you that your app is bug free and won't ruin the performance on my computer.
But if Apple accepts your app into the app store, I don't have to worry about these things.