Your observation highlights a significant aspect of the current Bluesky PDS system:

Access Dependency: Indeed, all posts hosted on a Bluesky PDS can only be accessed through the official Bluesky app. Since the PDS itself does not provide a user interface for direct access, this creates a reliance on the official app for viewing and interacting with the content on these servers. Single Point of Failure or Censorship: Failure: The official app becomes a single point of failure. If there's an issue with the app (bugs, server downtimes, or if it's taken down for any reason), users might not be able to access their posts or interact with the network at all, even if their PDS is operational. Censorship: Similarly, this setup could potentially allow for centralized control over what content is visible or how it's managed. If the app's functionality or policy changes, this could impact what users see or share, even from their own PDS, since they rely on the app to interact with their data.

However, there are some nuances and potential mitigations:

Decentralized Nature: While the current app access is centralized, the underlying idea of Bluesky's architecture is decentralization. The AT Protocol is open, and theoretically, anyone can develop third-party applications or interfaces to interact with PDS data. API Availability: The AT Protocol's API is designed to be accessible for development. This means third-party developers can, in theory, create alternative interfaces, though this hasn't been widely implemented yet. Community Projects: There's always a possibility for community-driven projects to emerge that provide alternative access methods or interfaces. Given the open-source ethos around the AT Protocol, we might see such developments in the future. Future Plans: Bluesky has expressed intentions to enhance federation and interoperability, which could include more open access to PDS data. Plans might include better support for third-party clients or even direct web access to PDS content in some form. Security Considerations: The control over the app might also be seen as a security measure, ensuring that only trusted interfaces can access user data, although this comes at the cost of centralization.

Until these aspects evolve, your point stands: the current system does indeed create a single point of failure or censorship. This could be mitigated with:

Development of Third-Party Clients: Encouraging or allowing the development of alternative applications or interfaces that can directly interact with PDS data. Open API Documentation: Providing comprehensive, developer-friendly documentation for the AT Protocol to facilitate third-party development. User Interface for PDS: Implementing a basic web UI directly on the PDS or making it easier for users or developers to set one up.

The balance between control, security, and decentralization in Bluesky's setup is something that will likely continue to evolve as the platform matures.