This.

The app is where they can control the user the most while gathering maximum data.

So now they’re just going about the process of making the app the only way to access their site.

The learning curve is definitely steeper here, which will be a barrier to a lot of the most casual users.

Once you find something you like there, how do you subscribe?

r/pens and r/fountainpens too!

Like you, I am not terribly active there but I enjoy lurking on both.