AltStore is great, but it requires you to run a server on a computer on the same wifi network as your phone, at least once week. I don't consider this a particularly practical way to side-load, even if it is better than the alternatives. Protestors in Belarus shouldn't need to also be IT administrators.

Sideloading does have risks, and so it doesn't need to be too easy. As a point of comparison, I really like how disabling SIP works on the Mac—the user needs to reboot the computer into recovery mode and run a short Terminal command. This process feels dangerous, but it's really quite easy, and it only needs to be done once per machine. I could guide even a very technology-illiterate person through the process, if I absolutely needed to.

> I don't fully buy this idea

Apple is currently literally being a threat to free expression in a situation where it really matters.

You don't need to buy the idea, but they're doing it.

Why does a single app have to be widespread to matter? This is exactly the case where a small group would want a particular app because their life and freedom depend on it. They're not looking to put Facebook out of business or be the next big world fad.

This is somewhat circular reasoning though. Apple and Google have deliberately made it impossible or difficult to sideload to maximize profits.

> I've never seen an app become successfully widespread through side loading

Isn't Fortnite on Android an example of this? It was in the Play store for a pariod, but IIRC it was not when it was first released and isn't there again after their spat with Google.

No push notifications, among other limitations.