The Chrome Web Store isn't really a store... it's not like Chrome can (or does) charge for extensions. The only ones that are commercial that I'm aware of are tied to external systems (password managers, note taking, etc), and it's not like Google gets a cut from that.
So the store will always be a cost center with net-negative revenue. Knowing this, how could they realistically review anything manually? The only model that has had some success in this regard has been the Apple App Store, which routinely gets vilified for it's walled garden.
I'm not sure what the answer is here, but I'd pay extra for a more secure extension "store" for the (few) extensions that I use. Or pay more for the products I already pay for that provide extensions (1Password, Zotero, Pocket, etc...). But that would be a rounding error for Google's revenue, so I'm not holding my breath...
The Chrome Web Store isn't really a store... it's not like Chrome can (or does) charge for extensions. The only ones that are commercial that I'm aware of are tied to external systems (password managers, note taking, etc), and it's not like Google gets a cut from that.
So the store will always be a cost center with net-negative revenue. Knowing this, how could they realistically review anything manually? The only model that has had some success in this regard has been the Apple App Store, which routinely gets vilified for it's walled garden.
I'm not sure what the answer is here, but I'd pay extra for a more secure extension "store" for the (few) extensions that I use. Or pay more for the products I already pay for that provide extensions (1Password, Zotero, Pocket, etc...). But that would be a rounding error for Google's revenue, so I'm not holding my breath...