The app store whining is limited to a very small online bubble of developer websites.
People crowding the Apple stores to buy the latest iPhone/iPod/etc don't know or care. I'd be absolutely amazed if any of the constant appstore whining has any effect on sales.
However, developers do form an important target for a platform vendor such as Apple.
A few years ago you hardly every heard developers complaining about Apple, but with the latest generation iPods, the iPhone and the App Store, this has changed.
Over the last year or so there have been consistent and very negative experiences reported by developers across the table.
I'd be absolutely amazed if any of the constant appstore whining has any effect on sales.
It won't in the immediate future. But the message Apple is sending loud and clear is that if you have an idea for an interesting app, you're better off developing for Android or Pre, because Apple and/or AT&T will arbitrarily kill it whenever they feel like it. That can easily have a noticeable effect a year or two down the line.
People crowding the Apple stores to buy the latest iPhone/iPod/etc don't know or care. I'd be absolutely amazed if any of the constant appstore whining has any effect on sales.