They have the right to say no, and ban all age-sensitive apps from being downloaded to age-verification states.

Impossible? Pornhub does so (blocks access) to the extent that such is possible.

There's a difference between standing on principle and acting on principle.

And who has the leverage? (until they give it away)

I previously posted:

Do not obey in advance

Historian Timothy Snyder’s first lesson in his book On Tyranny is “Do not obey in advance.” To obey a tyrant before you are compelled to do so teaches them what they will be able to get you to do, easily, without even needing to expend the resources and energy it takes to carry out that part of their agenda.

I thought the provided video did a good job describing what's coming.

Here's the referenced article: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/10/apple-and-google...

I wonder how many days the App Store would have had to not work in Texas for this to get reversed?

Shame on Apple. Again.