Yeah, my first response was going to be that the paid messaging app business model hasn't worked that entire time. But what we've learned from Whatsapp is that there may be other ways to monetize (Whatsapp Business). Still not an obvious bet IMO but you're right that owning the messaging layer is valuable.
These apps are a gateway drug onto the Matrix protocol thereby eliminating the monopoly position of trillion dollar (evil) companies like WhatsApp (Meta).
What is the market size of people who care about "eliminating the monopoly position of trillion dollar (evil) companies"? And how will you monetize them?
Not that either Apple or Meta are even close to having a monopoly position in messaging.