Of course it is! Have you looked at what some shareware authors want for some of the little OS tweaks they create? It has always floored me that some people think nothing of paying $19 for something that deletes a printer cache and then complain about the price of an iLife or OS X update. $29 is a bargain!
Apple has to do what it has to do to stay in business. They're doing it. MS is bringing more and more into the OS itself. The only reason 3rd parties are able to still live is the sheer numbers. Apple though is compared to MS not with it's 3rd party additional cost developers but OS to OS.
iTunes and the store with iPod are GREAT examples. Where do you think we'd be right now with SoundJam, Rio's, and BuyMusic .com? Can you say "Irrelevant"? Do what you do which is write about Apple and leave running the company to those that have thus far keep it relevant and innovating.
Is Snow Leopard a Bargain at Twice the Price?
Is Snow Leopard a Bargain at Twice the Price?
PowerBook G5: Held up By the Sleekness Factor?
Is Apple Going to iApp Itself Into Irrelevancy?