It seems like all this sketchiness actually hurts these companies. I do ten times more subscriptions when I can go through apple and know I can cancel in 5 seconds.
It absolutely does. I got bit by the NYT back when they had call-to-cancel, and I won't subscribe to any company that doesn't have an unsubscribe button. I just search "bla company unsubscribe," and if it's call to cancel, I won't subscribe.