Not just apps but methods, too. And they're all fishing in the same pool, and they're all trying to sell the same product (a subscription), and they're all trying real hard to integrate AI, after making extra money from selling your notes (or a distillation or statistical analysis thereof).

Not all. Not even close to all. There are tons with no or no mandatory (e. g. Obsidian) subscription.

And there are also tons with no forced or any AI (though plugins by the community kinda to show that many users do want AI)