Assuming they are both the same price this also speaks directly to NTY: people will give Apple a 30% cut just to not deal with their shitty practices.

No it doesn't, because the price is the same. If the Apple Pay route was 30% expensiver, then I reckon most would not opt for that option.

I think you misinterpret: people use the apple route which means NYT lose money, and seeing people unsubscribe to their direct service only to immediately subscribe to Apple would’ve obvious.