Is it because customers are used to apps after a decade of "there's an app for that" marketing? Or is it because apps allow for always-on tracking that browsers don't allow?
On a website, the browswer will let you know each time the site is trying to track your location. In an app, you just need to give them permission once and they'll always use it.
For this reason, I use m.uber.com (if I have to use Uber at all).
It's because we've conditioned an entire new generation of imbeciles with this as the bare minimum expectation. A web browser is deemed decidedly "old fashioned" to this group of people.
Case in point, I had a younger coworker openly mock and laugh at my use of a mobile website, "your app looks so old and archaic". He was right; it lacked the spinning animations, atrocious UX, and hoovering up of my contacts which has become the standard.
From the user’s perspective the native version can be faster, smoother, and more reliable than web. Part of the reason for this is that, on iOS at least, the functionality of web apps is deliberately held back by Apple in order to promote the App Store (where they earn a huge commission).
Native app users tend to convert better and spend more than web app users. This seems like a consequence of the previous point, but it’s an important one if you’re the one making business decisions.
You can also gather far more personal information on people with a native app… which is probably why you see all these pointless apps for companies which really have no business making apps. Look at the security analysis of TikTok’s apps for a shocking example of how much private information can be collected.
Imagine if other crimes could be paid in the product involved in the crime.
Moving company stole your furniture? Well they will move your furniture for free next time
There's even a wiki entry on the practice.