We know that Apple’s iPhone app approval process is too long, too opaque, too inconsistent, and too arbitrary. We know the parental controls are having frustrating repercussions. We know the ad hoc distribution process is frustrating and overly restrictive. We know that the rating system is biased toward the negative. We know that in-app purchases support a (mostly) broken business model. We know that iTunes Connect is buggy and user-hostile. And, worst of all, we know that Apple has no motivation to care or to fix it since their numbers look great regardless of how they treat developers. What can we do about it as mere developers playing in Apple’s walled garden of a market?
Suppose Apple’s vaunted numbers fell through the floor one day. 65,000 apps on the App Store? How about 200 apps on the App Store instead? It will require solidarity among developers, but I see no other way to be heard. I propose that on August 16 all developers set all of our apps’ availability dates to August 23 (dates chosen arbitrarily). For one week, Apple will see App Store numbers in the toilet. Will it be enough? I don’t know, but I haven’t come up with a better idea and I don’t know of anyone who has. Please comment if you are on board, or if you have a better idea.

I’m in. I’ve been in approval hell for almost a month. I really want to get the latest fixes out to my customers, since videos no longer work in the release version due to server changes. I’d rather just pull the app than keep waiting.