That was Edward Snowden 🤣
Discussion
There was a bump then, but Damus App Store day was huge. The technical superiority of one mobile device platform over another isn’t the important issue here. Most of Nostr’s current users will be able to route around whatever restrictions either Apple or Google could throw at them. But without access to app stores on both platforms mass adoption will be slow af, if at all. Sideloading is not the be all end all solution.
I feel your bias is showing here brother. You want a company to bend the knee to Bitcoin and Nostr? Bitcoin and Nostr do not need Apple. The developing world and people living under oppressive regimes need freedom more than anyone else in the world. They use Android. I'm sorry but that's the truth. Apple is a great marketing company. Apple makes great hardware. It's just not for the masses of the world. They brand themselves as a luxury company with luxury devices. Not everyone can't afford them and it's pretty narrow-minded to forget about the rest of the world.
Will most likely will have a Nostr client on iOS for Apple users because it would be silly to write off those users, but all of the innovations will be developed elsewhere. Maybe in 4 years, as per Apple's track record, they'll change their mind when they can announce a way to store your Nostr private key in Apple wallet. Until then, Will and others will build for the masses and innovate for the masses.