@EddieHinkle I think I should write this up as a blog post because my feelings are nuanced but for what it's worth, I'd say this in reply.
Personally, I have particular apps that I would be sad to lose. The same is true for the Apple TV (moreso for the Apple TV where I practically never use the TV app and dread all functionality disappearing into it). However, I'm a nerd. I want the supercomputer on my wrist to run arbitrary software, no matter how poor the experience.
However, if I think about how to put these devices in a position where they can both appeal to a mass market and evolve rapidly, I can't escape the conclusion that apps1️⃣ get in the way. They calcify design decisions. They risk alienating users/developers who try them, see how shit they are and decide never to go back.
One of the best decisions Apple ever made in the evolution of the iPhone was not shipping cut/copy/paste until they knew they'd nailed it. That's akin to what I want to see with apps. I think apps might have a place eventually, but Apple should have waited.
1️⃣ To be clear, by 'apps' I mean 'apps running locally on the device'. Smart notifications, complications, etc—those are fine. And perhaps they'd be even more capable if Apple knew that that's all they'd have for developers.