That's not what I said at all. I said there is no reason to DEVELOP an app if you can get Windows users as customers through a browser. The fact that anybody can use these services without opening an app shows that there is no need for developers to make one.
In that case, there should be no apps at all. Every platform with apps, has a browser
Apps provide more abilities, quicker loading, cleaner interface and a dedicated full screen experience versus the browser. For example, a banking app can provide balance at a glance. A chat app can provide running notifications.
Apps can access Bluetooth, or peripherals. Apps run locally, not over the slow, and disconnected web. Web apps don't have such abilities.
Part of the problem is only 30 percent or so of windows users really look in the store for apps, or have come around to the idea of using apps on a desktop. Developers have much the same old fashioned mentality (often, not always) - "apps are for mobile devices. There is no use for them on desktop".
They don't seem to realize that MSFT is 100 percent bullish on UWP. They will get all current developers over to more modern UWP one way or the other. Even if they have to literally kill win32. its a street with no question mark over it.
Already windows s, is causing an fast growing influx of centennials.
Windows on arm this year - win32 will run 70% native speed _at best_. They also support always connected LTE.
That will cause an influx of UWP both via PC, and iOS.
There are a LOT of notebook windows users. Cshell later will enable smaller form factors for win10 - and that too will require scaling, encouraging UWP.
Almost every move MSFT is making ATM, seems to directly benefit UWP adoption. I wouldn't be surprised if the new console has greater PC API compatibility.
The mistake here is perhaps more a lack of foresight - thinking msft will simply roll over on UWP, and go back to UWP, is like thinking msft would stick to ms-dos. Making a UWP app now, or at least converting to centennial will get you increased exposure as the upcoming changes roll in - making you "first to market", which is commercially advantageous. Its forward thinking.
Which is why, I imagine, new developers are adopting the store right now. They have their eye on the ball, rather than merely being reactive.