So, according to https://www.ifixit.com/go/fixbot, the paid "Enthusiast" tier includes "OEM service manuals".

Is this a sign that iFixit is going to gatekeep and start forcing you to pay for repair content?

Oh no!

Any reason for the native apps besides “we had the money”?

Collecting data as always ...

And a vehicle for selling FixBot - the AI repair expert.

Other than the "battery lifespan predictor", I don't see why this needs to be an app when it's all already available on website (and indexed by google search).