>>Behind the scene, hybrid apps are indeed browser-based; kind of automate the native device browser. And again, hybrid / native arguments need be placed in a business / consumer perspective.

My understanding is that a hybrid app is a native app that accepts the value of HTML5 for display, as part of the app. IME there's less distinction between native and hybrid apps in 2015: http://kennethormandy.com/journal/your-favourite-app-isnt-native

I don't take the likes of Gartner and Forrester as gospel- far from it- but the trouble with "common sense" approaches is that they are based on your own anecdote, or the anecdote of like-minded people who congregate. I prefer to listen to those who differ.

FWIW, I promoted web apps for many years but recently was involved in a fat client app for Windows desktop. Reason: we needed multiple top level forms with external apps able to be positioned in between our forms. We paid a lot of money for web experts to do this for the web model we preferred- but in the end the native Windows option was snappier and far more reliable. Doesn't mean I think native Windows apps are Nirvana- but it does make me review whether browser apps are the best every time as some would have it.