Rather than blacklist, I think a better approach is for VLC app to inform Huawei users about its quirky behavior on first run after installation and after every update. That way, Huawei users are unlikely to take the trouble of leaving a low rating for an app, and are better informed to choose a device next time. If background audio is something you can't do without, don't choose Huawei - that should be the messaging. That can help kick the company too into improving its firmware.
On a different - but related note - Huawei recently announced that they won't provide bootloader unlocking anymore for any device[1]. Although I own an Honor and like its hardware and software, I think Huawei is setting itself up to become an increasingly "bad player" in the device space in future. I'm wary of buying a Huawei again.
Could just as easily be counter productive. Some user who's just spent a few hundred on a new Huawei installs VLC and all their other old apps. VLC tells them their choice will lead to strange behaviour. User leaves 1 star review that VLC told them their new phone was crap.
Users barely read error messages and dialogues so there's no scope for any nuance in explaining and informing.
Blocking seems the only rational approach to take. Those who can understand sideloading can likely decide if they want VLC warts and all on their Huawei.
You aren't kidding. Users are shitty and capricious in the mobile space (sometimes everywhere, but very frequently the mobile space). I've had users leave one-star reviews for my mobile app--which controls OBS, a video mixer--with the reason "it works for 20 minutes [ed.: there is a very visible timer the entire time] and then stops [ed.: it goes readonly, it doesn't kill a stream or recording] and asks you to pay [ed.: five whole dollars]."
On a different - but related note - Huawei recently announced that they won't provide bootloader unlocking anymore for any device[1]. Although I own an Honor and like its hardware and software, I think Huawei is setting itself up to become an increasingly "bad player" in the device space in future. I'm wary of buying a Huawei again.
[1]: https://www.xda-developers.com/huawei-stop-providing-bootloa...