You’re right, but I was coming from a different perspective. From the perspective of money generated from the app - you are 100% right. Not worth it. My mind goes to branding, and advertising and market freedom. I’m not thinking now I always think tomorrow. So this is how I was thinking about it…
If you stop adding to the market, even if it’s already full, you end up with no choice eventually. There will be, over time, company enlargement due to consumer demand which will result in buy outs, boards being made, board members will sell shares, communities will lose interest and eventual technocracy. If it works well - someone wants to buy it - to control it - or it will eventually be exploited because it is rich in population (basically data). The bigger it becomes the more workers it needs, the more management they need, and the next thing you know it’s a big corporation. This is all in time.
The more options there are, the more spread out people are, the less likely the market space will be commandeered by government agencies, conglomerate corporations, shareholder capitalists, ect. That’s my thought. I’m advocate for anything that competes with those entities and keeps options open. The market should never get to a point where it gets restricted out of complacency. I’m like you I have a certain messenger I like a lot, but I use multiple ones because I have people on everything (and that’s their choice). Its part of the freedom.
As for advertising I think that’s why a lot of projects do it. Probably not for the money. Nothing sinister about it, but the fact is projects need support, to get their name out, and they need people who just love the project. An app is a fun little thing that you tell others about. If they like it they think maybe the other stuff is great too. Next thing you know you gain more interest in the project you care most about.
Its like a side-load onto a restricted OS. If you say “Hey go get a Brax phone or a router” people are resistant. They ask why? How can you trust it? Its not well known… etc. They never buy it. If I say watch this free video, join this free community, or check out this cool app - look at these sweet features and look how secure it is - People have interest.
Its a strange psychology, but I’m guessing because these things are usually free or low fee it’s more palatable, but to buy hardware takes more confidence and commitment. From acceptance of the app then they then are more open to a phone or a router or whatever. Also the name now has meaning. Brax is privacy. Brax is safe. Brax is __ etc. It is a trust building exercise. Not really something to directly generate income from the app. You’d probably, initially, lose money on the app unless it was a community open source project, but the potential gains are there if it wows people enough and carries the brand name. It would have a benefit if it was well made and easily sharable I think.
As for the telcos I’m with you on that. Its an absolute crime, but this is a prime example of a restricted market. It should not have been allowed to get that way, but it has been basically made into a utility by governments worldwide and the regulations set make it so hard to break into it unless you piggy back - which doesn’t really open the market up.
