You can rely on Tomi Ahonen to tell it like it is - in this case musing on the appalling economics in the iPhone app world (there's a summary quote below), talking about the sheer numbers mean that even if you do a great app and are moderately lucky then you'll still lose your shirt. Comments welcome as to how much of this applies in the world of Symbian - Ovi Store, Play Now, etc. - I've a feeling there's a common argument that could be aimed at Symbian app development. Of course, the solution is a) to be insanely good and b) reviewed/feature here on All About Symbian...

"So, reality check time. If you are so good, that you can develop a paid app, that passes half of the competition. That you get past HALF of all who have already developed an iPhone App, and you hit that mid-point, the median app - exactly so successful that half of all apps are downloaded less than yours, and half downloaded more than yours - then you are on schedule to lose 28,000 dollars in your project. For you to hope to break even, you have to be among the 16% of the most successful apps among paid apps passing 87% of all who have already developed a paid app, and then you're going against all global brands and major marketing campaigns with massive marketing support. Why would you want to go this way? There is easier money in mobile, not this fool's gold they call smartphone apps."