[rootusrootus]

Excluding technical users, Google Play Services is the same. And their grip only tightens over time.

[roywiggins]

Fortnite is only available on Android via sideloading, and I don't expect that will slow down Epic Games much.

[paxy]

You don't have to be technical at all to sideload apps on Android. Enough people I know have done it in minutes following a very simple guide.

[lozaning]

I dont see how you can make this claim when installing whatever you want on your android phone is as easy as tapping the setting for installing from unknown sources.

[abugheratwork]

I just want to chime in with "yes and yes". Let's be sure not to fall into a false dichotomy about which brand of problem is a problem. :)

[Skunkleton]

Google does a decent job w/ non-standard app stores. They have permissions that allow other apps to act as a trusted app store without opening the system up entirely.

I agree that Google Play Services is not competition friendly, but that is a different topic.