From what I can find, about 31% of the apps in the store are free. The average selling price (factoring in $0.00 through the 7 $999 apps) is $2.61. I'd go further with the math to estimate how much Apple is pulling in with their 30% cut, but an accurate number isn't available due to not knowing how many apps are being sold/downloaded for free.
Yes, the numbers aren't available and I don't think that's simply because Apple forgot to share them.
There have been 7 billion download though, that number they shared widely.
It may not even be very much money to them. A hundred million here and there tends to just slip under the rug sometimes. But it's profitable nonetheless and certainly not a loss-leader as they've implied numerous times.
I'd rather see them charge $200 or $300 a year to developers and only take a max of 10% revenue. They could easily make that work and it would be of huge benefit to the developers they're supposedly trying to help. While I like many Apple products, I've never been one to mix words about their goals. They're out to make products people like, but in doing so, making themselves as much money as possible.
Made me think of the slogan at the end of an old SNL skit. "Macintosh Jr., the power to crush the other kids."
http://videosift.com/video/MacIntosh-Jr-The-power-to-CRUSH-the-other-kids-SNL-skit
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