Let's assume for the sake of argument that:
• Apple makes 100% of its profit from the App Store.
• This profit comes equally from the US, EU, China, and the entire rest of the world. (It doesn't, the EU is a smaller market.)
• Half of EU users would stop using the App Store entirely if they were allowed to side-load.
• Apple's keeps 75% of its revenue as profit.
By my calculations, this would mean Apple's EU App Store monopoly is worth 9.375% of the company's worldwide revenue. Please let me know if I made an error in my math.
Why is Apple willing to risk 10% of its worldwide revenue to protect 9.375% of its worldwide revenue?
Okay, I guess maybe Apple thinks it's unlikely to be fined the maximum amount, and is willing to roll the dice. But I also chose ludicrously favorable numbers here.