Web apps are a great way for Apple to cut App Store overhead and poor quality listings. Being able to refuse copycat apps, and things that are obviously just app wrappers around a website by telling the dev to “ship it as a web app instead” gives Apple an out.
It also means they can point to web apps as App Store competition, giving them ammo to fight off “monopoly” claims.
How was it shortsighted? The only reason they made the decision in the first place was because they felt they were legally obligated to do so? It’s only staying as is because it turns out they’re not.
Edit: I don’t know why people are downvoting. The parent comment and reply to my comment are objectively incorrect.
If this is what Apple actually saying now and not bsing cuz being pressured to, whilst not actually doing it, then I think this is a good huge step esp for software freedom and having to rely less on Apple’s unnecessary strict App Store rules.