Unless a business in that position attempts to enforce its position, what's the problem? If he is making something easier for others he should be rewarded or he'll stop.
It's like saying a road has no value because stuff isn't created on the road, just moved.
As for ethics, you could sleep better after buying a kilo of coke on silk road than paying your taxes.
Roads are a public good, not a business (despite what libertarian rhetoric would have you believe). All business seek to enforce their position, by the way.
There were lots of private highways and roads in early US history[1]. I'm not saying it's always and everywhere a good idea, but the historical reality or private roads suggests we shouldn't dismiss them out of hand.
I think you're arguing with the mirror. I said it's like [the fallacy of] thinking a road has no value ...
And I see a lot of businesses selling stuff like 3d printers who use open designs and contribute changes back to the community. Lock-in is a choice people make.
It's like saying a road has no value because stuff isn't created on the road, just moved.
As for ethics, you could sleep better after buying a kilo of coke on silk road than paying your taxes.