Yeah, I want App Store access to full first and third party software, but this would be a great first step. Come on, just do it Apple.

Exactly. Apps that Apple probably couldn't condone - P2P clients or DVD rippers for instance - would still be installable through the developer's website. But for most applications, it would put a spotlight on both the app and its developer that otherwise wouldn't be visible to the average user without searching through Google.

All these apps would be easier to download, install, update, uninstall and essentially guaranteed as not malware, spyware, etc.

I mean, Apple already has this on their website: http://www.apple.com/downloads/ They'd just create a Mac section in the App Store, similar to what they recently did with audio and video podcasts, as a more visible and familiar interface for the apps they already promote in their website's Download section.

Maybe they could make it like their podcast section where podcasters host their own servers and iTunes just provides an intuitive, slick, searchable interface with no real arrangements made with Apple. They'd just use their already capable online Downloads section and put an iTunes face on it in the App Store. Mainly small to medium indie apps that don't have name recognition. NetNewsWire, for instance.

I expect Amazon and other resellers pay the wholesale price for large resellers. Apple has been known to take a percentage of sales based on the wholesale price (the Made for iPod program), so they're getting the wholesale price, marking that up to retail, plus taking a percentage of wholesale.

I don't mind the DRM on the iPhone apps, they are cheaply priced and who is decadent enough to have more than one iPhone? But Mac apps? No way - I'm not gonna buy a Mac app with DRM wrapped up in it.