This is actually where the problem is. Ubuntu is the entity pushing the Snaps. And the apps are NOT offered in the repo; Snaps are not set as default.
Rather, Snaps are offered, ONLY. This is why I say that Snaps break the spirit of FOSS.
Moreso in that Ubuntu / Canonical had pledged in the beginning that Snaps would not replace APT - standard apps- then broke that pledge. That violation is Huge.
https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3906
I just found this article, too:
While we asked the system to install the native package, what we actually receive is the snap. The user is given no choice, no warning. If they weren’t paying close enough attention, they wouldn’t even realize what happened. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, this is subversion.
While Canonical does allow for companies to create “branded” versions of the Snap Store, it’s just a cosmetic change and doesn’t allow you to run your own server.
In addition to all this, well after the release of Snapd, it has been discovered that it is a Security hole. Just to add injury to insult:
100% Feels Like Microsoft.
I think we can all agree on this. If there was One Thing I would ever ask from the Zorin Team- Less silence.
The Zorin team makes an announcement infrequently. And we are all understanding if there is a development delay, updating users during such is one of the most important things a developer can do.
If a person is late with their rent, they are far better off keeping the landlord informed and update regularly- otherwise, the landlord is likely to be much more harsh in their judgment of your reliability as a tenant. This is true for many different fields.
I mentioned above certain modifications to my system- The stress factor in that was that I was willing to put off some projects and wait a bit for the release of Zorin 16 which comes with gtk 3.24 and so on. But with that being delayed and no updates on it ever given... I got tired of waiting and did some "upgrading" myself.
Artyom Zorin has stated in the past that they are capable of completely replacing the Ubuntu Repo.
This- makes my eyebrows raise. But it is an interesting concept, and if that includes the Debian method rather than the Canonical Method, I firmly believe that would go over VERY well with the users.
I think there is a certain difficulty in this: Zorin Ultimate.
Zorin Ultimate is how the project is funded. It is quite clear that choosing Zorin Ultimate is a way of supporting the continued development of Zorin OS. The Zorin Team does not mislead the reader nor at any time make claims that imply, suggest or outright say that Zorin Ultimate will give better Performance, Propreitary (and otherwise unavailable) software or Extra Things you otherwise could not normally get or set up on your own. You may note that the Zorin pages and Download pages are not cluttered or shady looking. They are crisp, direct and clean. It is one the strongest points in Zorins OS's favor- your initial viewing is trustworthy.
But the Zorin Team relies on users choosing Ultimate sometimes and a Rolling Release may make it... well, less necessary, to choose Ultimate as frequently.
On Top of this, Rolling Release is not a picnic. For many, a Stable release is preferred, with Rolling Release more geared toward those willing to act as Beta Testers.
Yes, they listen. Whether they agree is another matter. This is true for many groups. let me give an example.
Hypothetically, let's assume that the Zorin Team Hates Gnome Desktop. However, as it is an offered and dominant desktop, this causes them to think it is popular and wanted; even if they personally disagree. They will continue to offer Gnome. However, if they receive enough feedback that says differently, then they are in a better position to consider offering something different; again irregardless of their personal opinion of Gnome. The more feedback they receive, the better they know how to address these issues.
Just as we might say we would like to be updated by the Team on Releases and News, the Zorin Team could like to be Updated on User response just as much.
Many users stop talking when they get what they want out of Zorin OS, and just disappear. And many users, should Zorin offer something that they do not like and feel they could do better elsewhere, silently leave, with Zorin Team none the wiser. Feedback helps.
In fact, the Zorin Team instituted "census" a while back to try to get some information on how much Zorin OS is being used (Which can, by the way, be disabled by the user). The census does NOT gather any personal information, does not spy on you or any other nefarious activity- But it made some users nervous and claims started to appear saying that Zorin was spying on their users.
Catch-22.
The more feedback users give the Zorin Team, the better.