[bunderbunder]

You don't have to go through the review process for getting an app approved for the app store. But you do still have to apply for a developer key, and buy the necessary additional equipment (which can only legally be Apple hardware), and comply with the associated contractual agreement.

That does mean Apple has a nonzero amount of control over that channel, too.

[mrtksn]

You try hard to hate on Apple :) Of course, you need to buy the necessary equipment.

Do you want to make holes? Then you buy a drill.

[bunderbunder]

Literally every piece of electronics in front of me right now is either an Apple device, or connected to an Apple device.

I'm not hating on them. I'm just advocating a realistic perspective on the situation. iOS is a walled garden. That some people (myself included) see that as a net positive doesn't make it not one.