The guy that cleans out your boat probably earns a lot more, per annum, than some people intend to make per annum with their apps. Some people would like to make a little, but don't expect to run a significant income from them.

It probably won't keep out the fart apps - iPhone proves there is commercial demand for those :-)

It may keep out some interesting niche apps, where the developer doesn't feel confident they'll make $1000/yr selling it, so they don't bother porting it to N900 in the first place, or if it's already on the device, polishing it enough for public release - but where the developer isn't inclined to open source it.

But maybe that sort of thing shouldn't be on Ovi Store anyway.

If you think of Ovi as the place for "premium, quality professional apps" in the expensive shop in the mall - but not the *only* shop - rather than a massive aggregating app store like Apple's, it makes more sense. Then the $1000/yr is a sort of entrance fee to the high-status store. Don't care about the high-status? Sell it elsewhere, in Joe's discount app store around the corner :-)