[KillerDiller]

This could be a crucial argument in that it distinguishes between the essential freedom of device owners to decide what software to run, and the freedom of device manufacturers to decide which apps to sell in their stores and at what terms (still subject to anti-trust laws).

Unfortunately, the $99 annual fee per developer account nullifies any possible mass-market sideloading possibilities. (Imagine what could happen if sideloading apps from source was free just highly impractical, and HEY turned their rage into a free Apple developer account management & sideloading SaaS offering.)

[dwaite]

While there are restrictions, free developer accounts can support installation onto your own devices.

[GeekyBear]

Jailbreaking the device is free, easily reversible, and allows you to run any software you like.

[spullara]

Makes sense for Apple to make developer accounts free while publishing to the store cost money.