I agree to a certain point, I have Linux on all my computers because of the freedom. But I have an iPhone, the only apple thing I own, and one of the main reasons is the AppStore and how restrictive it is.
I would say that for the average end user being able to install software from anywhere is a liability and causes a lot more issues than it solves, I've seen lots of computers running like trash because the users kept just typing 'download <software> free' on google and going along with any random shady site that popped. Apple cater more to these average users than to power users, and honestly the google play store is a dumpster fire. A walled garden doesn't sound that bad when it's the wastelands outside