Hey Robleh, the challenge I see with your central thesis is there’s SO much friction in the current ‘distribution model’ (of discovering, installing, and switching to a dedicated emoji keyboard) in today’s mobile platforms, and no clear resolution in sight.

Even when enthusiasts can overcome these hurdles — have you seen the star ratings on the example you cited? The experience bar is being driven quite high by the big platform keyboards (features like letter swiping and smart prediction are quickly becoming table stakes), making it a tough nut to crack for brands without deep technical/product expertise.

It’ll be interesting to see how the trend plays out, but seems like a bumpy road to the future you’re envisioning. Regardless, thanks for a thought provoking article!