They can show up to the operators house and stick a gun to their head though. Single points of failure.

You’re missing the point. People interact with a protocol through the app. The app is what they know, what they’re familiar with. They know nothing of the protocol. Because the most popular apps are likely to be accessed through wall gardens that invites control and censorship. Nostr app developers such as yourself already experienced this with the Apple App Store. Nostr does a better job of it compared to Facebook and Twitter, but it’s not immune to the centralising forces of brand, convenience, and network effects.

You do not need an app to access Nostr. An internet browser is sufficient. Or if you have an android based phone you can load an apk yourself uncensorably. People are locked in the iPhone mindset to think the only option is an app from the AppStore, this is not true. There are other options.