I think its probably true that most people buy Apple products to be cool, and only then do they realize that their choices for apps are severly limited by the Jobs Thought Police.  It's a matter of being technically savvy enough to realize what you are getting yourself into, and whether you are "okay" with that.  Personally, I like what apple has done with the app store because it means that anything I download from there is safe. (at least, I think... true?)  I don't know if I used a droid (or whatever) if it would be the same, but if not, I'm happy that Apple has certain policies.  I'm not really a "power user"... I use my iPhone for some games, dictionary apps, unit converters, and twitter, so it does everything I need it to do.

Although I wasn't exactly sure what you meant by "people don't know what the alternatives are".  We're talking about an app store here, not all forms of news.  Apple sells products well because of their marketing.  I think that people buy what makes them happy.  If people want a watered-down, safe, clean version of the internet, why shouldn't they have that?  That's why people moved out of the city and into the suburbs.  If you want to live with the (perceived) grimy real world of unfettered 3rd party apps, the more power to you, but I think its rather presumptuous to posit that anyone who buys apple products is a fan of totalitarian control.