Many users, myself included, choose iOS because it’s free of viruses and malware - that is the benefit of the review process. If you don’t want that, you can use Android.
The regulation allows for apple to still do malware scanning and blocking on apps installed even by third party stores. Google also does the same thing, this point is a nothingburger.
The human review part of the app store review does nothing to catch viruses.
And where did you heard iOS is free from viruses?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_(spyware)
From the top of my head there's also AdThief and AceDeceiver.
Not only that but App store is full of Anti-virus offerings.