Yes this is true, GP should have specified "iOS" where it's in Apple's interest to be a walled garden. Apple argument in any case is not based on logical consistency, but rather what is in Apple's interest. If they really viewed unauthorized apps as so dangerous, I would expect they'd lock down macOS more too. When it's Mac where they would be harmed from being hyper closed, they are open and compatible because it suits their interest, and this is something Steve Jobs learned the hard way. Apple is definitely very good at learning from the past.

> They evened threatened lawsuits against Microsoft.

Because Microsoft reneged on a deal. You make Apple sound petulant when they were standing up to a 800lb coercive monopoly.