[lapcat]

"For developers who choose to agree to the new business terms, membership in the Apple Developer Program includes one million first annual installs per year for free for apps distributed from the App Store, Web Distribution, and/or alternative marketplaces."

https://developer.apple.com/support/core-technology-fee/

This is what some commenters here don't understand when they criticize the developer for not offering a free App Store version in the EU. Once a developer distributes outside the App Store in the EU, Apple applies the CTF to everything the developer distributes in the EU, whether inside or outside the App Store. Financially, there's no way that they could offer a free version in the EU.

Also note: "Developers of alternative app marketplaces will pay the Core Technology Fee for every first annual install of their app marketplace, including installs that occur before one million."

[threeseed]

There is nothing stopping you having multiple developer accounts.

And there is the option of setting up a non-profit which removes the CTF.

It seems much more like the aim is to drive usage towards the AltStore.

[lapcat]

Why in the world would the developer want to jump through these hoops just to support the crApp Store in the EU?

Apple has made this situation way more difficult than it needs to be. Don't blame the victims. Also, the EU is already investigating, and it's not clear that Apple's Rube Goldberg machine will ultimately stand up to DMA scrutiny.