[devjab]

Don’t you need an Apple developer account to get certificates to sign your stuff? If so that might explain it since that would be… what $300 a year? On top of likely having to go through the whole Apple Store acceptance process.

[jazzyjackson]

you don't have to submit apps for them to be signed by you, but you do need to pay 99$/yr, tbh i think it's fair considering xcode is free

[devjab]

I’m too unfamiliar with Xcode to know much about it. Do you need it to release software for macs?

I’m not sure how Apple gets away with forcing people to pay $99/yr to be able to let people install software without getting a warning. I guess it’s a minor issue. I have added a few installs to my “yes I really want to use this software” list on my m1 air, but I still think it’s a little bit silly. It’s obviously some sort of security feature, but Apple isn’t my mother.

[hirako2000]

It's an effective "barrier to entry" to level up software quality, or rather, to keep poor publishing out.

Apple gets away with it because Mac users tend to be much higher software payers than those on other OS.

Not saying it isn't some sort of business extortion

[pjmlp]

I consider XCode's price to be included in Apple's margins.