they also take away any direct relationship a publisher can have with a customer
It takes 2 party to be in a relationship. Apple gives you the option of being in that relationship or not. Except for billing and shipping, I can't remember what the pros are for the publisher having my information. I do know that at the first chance they get they make money on the backside by blasting out my mailing address to every junkmail operation in existence.
Agreed. However if CompanyX has a relationship with CompanyY and is negotiating prices/deal/terms/whatever it is in on very shaky footing to get a favorable deal if CompanyY completely owns the customer base for CompanyX.
It takes 2 party to be in a relationship. Apple gives you the option of being in that relationship or not. Except for billing and shipping, I can't remember what the pros are for the publisher having my information. I do know that at the first chance they get they make money on the backside by blasting out my mailing address to every junkmail operation in existence.