My issue with side loading is what the developers can bake into the app “features” that Apple and its security departments won’t know. Could be metrics and gps data, keylogger, maybe it lets you share malware or tracker software via an exploit with airdrop. Who knows what’s out there but I don’t trust any company to adhere to data privacy rules. It’s been done time and again and results in a lawsuit to delete said data.
I was an android user since the original T-Mobile G1. I worked in RI and lived in vt. I moved and the new house had absolutely no cell coverage. WiFi calling and texting a bit later made it ok but it never worked well. My family had iPhones and I was the lone holdout. I would have to drive a mile to get signal if there were mms messages I wanted to see because of the Samsung to iPhone mms bs. Bought an iPhone last year and iMessage just makes it all flawless with no cellular needed. It’s that little thing that makes it that little bit superior in my eyes. Loved my S22U and still have them all back to the s20. All the pixels I bought till the pod 3xl and Google hobbled worked charging and before that every nexus model. I have a 15 pro max now, bought because of the usb-c change which is just perfect now. Do I miss some of the Android perks hell yes, but the convenience of being able to see family pictures and texting on WiFi with no hiccups and FaceTime worth everything.
A lot after the last “update”. 17.1.1 turned my new iPhone into a POS.