>>kotaKa+(OP)
Android's ability to run binaries outside of the Google Play Store is a key differentiator of their product vs. Apple's. Or at least it used to be.
>>Nelson+4z
I think this is another thing that has changed in time. Custom ROM's used to be the defining feature of Android but over time less and less people used it. I think sideloading has gotten to that point as well. Where it's a power user feature that most people don't touch. So Google feels confident in nixing it since it only affects a small group of people.
>>jajuuk+kD
Its the other way around - these aren't less popular because people want them less now so we kneecap them - they're less popular BECAUSE we've spent the last decade kneecapping them.
Custom roms would be more popular if every app dev and Google weren't doing everything in their power to make their software not work on custom roms.
That's intentional. It didn't used to be that way.
>>const_+T33
I don't think so. There are still plenty of devices and apps that can be unlocked and run custom roms on. But there is barely any developers working on it. Custom roms were always a power user method to give themselves more functions. What functions are missing from modern OEM roms and launchers?