<i>I think there is some collective head-in-the-sand in the geek community because what people apparently want is not at all like what geeks want.</i><p>I had an epiphany (albeit a minor one) when thinking about this problem.  I asked myself, "Why do I have such a problem with Apple's closed app store?"  The conclusion I reached is that a core part of my geek personality involves resisting authority figures that I didn't choose, whether it's manifest through running Linux instead of Windows or starting my own company instead of pursuing a traditional career.  I suspect that, to an enterprising and independent geek, accepting Apple's way is like giving up the fight for independence from unwanted authority figures.