Apple's rationale for the Core Technology Fee feels odd to me:
...reflects the value Apple provides developers through ongoing investments in the tools, technologies, and services that enable them to build and share innovative apps with users around the world.
Isn't Apple's investment in tools for building software for their devices a driver of device sales? This almost seems like Apple is trying to expand their services-centric narrative to make tool development into even more services revenue so as hardware sales slow down Apple can make more money.
But the Mac platform seems "fine" without such a fee, so why does iOS need one now? Notarization would be an ongoing cost but can't macOS apps get notarized just by the developer having paid the $100/yr developer fee? If that continues to work for macOS then why does iOS need the new fee?
I've heard this described as malicious compliance and it's hard to disagree.
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