Does the iPhone $99 need to be paid each year, forever?

The only “problem” I foresee is the precedent it sets where human morality based responses inevitably conspire to assert that any software not signed by the manufacturer must be “bad” or “illegal” and therefore simply used for nefarious purpose”

While I share your nostalgia for days when anonymous trust was shared amongst a small, mutually known community, those days are long gone.
To answer your question, ‘Isn’t that good enough”, the answer is a resounding “NO!”.
The modern stakes are too high to settle for anything less than authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. “Ham-Fisted” is hyperbole, comparing Apple’s responsibility to provide a secure environment for its customers to monomaniacal political repression.
Personally, I’ll settle for no less than what Apple is requiring, and I welcome it.

CNet’s Version Tracker Pro service is vastly superior, though the UI is clunky. key trick is it identifies updates to your installed apps, plus the user comments are invaluable. it’s not a free service tho. subscription. and lots of ads …

Apple certainly could and should roll out an App Store for all Mac computer apps that did all that too, combining Software Update technology with iTunes Store retail front-end. not mandatory for software companies or users, just terrific UI and free service - then we’d all use it. would beat the heck out of CNet and Amazon and all other software retailers.

hey - maybe the MacApp Store will be the second Golden Gate Bridge “landmark” unveiled at the WWDC in June. would make sense, building on the new iPhone App Store. my prediction!