> This is the problem with your argument. You're looking at it from the developer's perspective, rather than the user's
The developers need to make the apps, otherwise there's no marketplace. Gotta satisfy both, albeit imperfectly.
> As a user, all I have is your word (which is worth nothing if I don't already have a good reason to trust you).
That's not true at all. Experts can audit closed-source software to see if it's phoning home, etc. An App Store (like Apple's) can have strict rules where developers will be banned if they do malicious things. You can install tools to monitor apps. Apps are sandboxed to prevent access. You have much more to go on than just the developer's word.
> As a user, source code access is important, for a number of reasons
Sure, it would be nice as a user to have the code. Most app developers simply won't give it to you.
> The developers need to make the apps, otherwise there's no marketplace.
Why is publishing the source code such a burden, when the apparent target are unsophisticated users? Are developers afraid that users will start cloning repos and build their own binaries?
> An App Store (like Apple's) can have strict rules where developers will be banned if they do malicious things.
Apple will rat you out to the cops if you take a picture of human skin on "your own" phone, why should they be a benchmark for anything security or privacy related?
The developers need to make the apps, otherwise there's no marketplace. Gotta satisfy both, albeit imperfectly.
> As a user, all I have is your word (which is worth nothing if I don't already have a good reason to trust you).
That's not true at all. Experts can audit closed-source software to see if it's phoning home, etc. An App Store (like Apple's) can have strict rules where developers will be banned if they do malicious things. You can install tools to monitor apps. Apps are sandboxed to prevent access. You have much more to go on than just the developer's word.
> As a user, source code access is important, for a number of reasons
Sure, it would be nice as a user to have the code. Most app developers simply won't give it to you.