[dylan604]

If they didn't want to support 3rd party apps, then that's a decision they are allowed to make. It sounds to me as if that's the decision they want to make but don't have the moral fortitude to make out right. Instead, they've tried to make the API unappealing for someone to want to use. In the end, it is the same result. So just because they are putting a very high price tag does not mean that's the actual cost/worth, but just a number they put out to scare people away.

As contractors, we have the same option to us by responding to a request with an outrageous fee that you think nobody will pay so you can avoid having to actually say no.