Android still allowed an workaround for older apps, as the old OS behavior will be done for apps that still target older versions.
This is no longer allowed for new apps since January, as the minimum allowed version to be targeted is Oreo (8.1).
Regarding the storage, with Oreo as minimum version, the changes introduced in Nougat will be enforced, just like with UWP and iOS, only indirect access is allowed (SAF).