Seriously, Amazon?

In what I can only describe as an Apple-esque walled garden tactic, Amazon is going to stop allowing the sale of non Prime compatible devices like Chromecast and Apple TV, effective October 29. 

According to the Amazon Overlords:

“Over the last three years, Prime Video has become an important part of Prime,” a spokesperson said. “It’s important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion. Roku, Xbox, PlayStation and Fire TV are excellent choices.”

So to start with Amazon is assuming their customers are idiots and can't properly research a purchase or read a product description. While I agree that there are a startling number of 85s* out there this argument just doesn't hold much water, Secondly, it's reported that fewer than 20% of Amazon users are Prime members so anyone wanting a cheap or convenient device to use other streaming services will just have to shop elsewhere.

Popular opinion is that this isn't tantamount to an antitrust violation, due to there being other outlets for purchase, although I imagine this will suck worse for Google as outlets for Apple products are far more ubiquitous but, in my opinion, this just comes off as a sleazy, underhanded move.

* 85 is an Alien 3 reference used to indicate someone has a low intelligence.