A single competent, seasoned app developer can not only replace hundreds of engineers, but vastly outperform them. But. Only when the vision is clear. Apollo, Sync, etc.? Extremely clear vision, it is a Reddit client, everyone knows what a good Reddit client should be, so a competent developer can make it happen, it’s just a function of time and money.
Businesses work differently, especially VC backed businesses. The actual app to such a business doesn’t matter, what matters is:
Is it making us money?
Next year, will it make us twice as much money?
In two years, will it make us five times as much money?
Ad infinitum (pun intended)
The shit that ruins the official app is shit attempts at the above. Because again, the app does not matter.