Google is threatening to remove the last big reason people choose Android over Apple, and… they are on the wrong sideload of history.
Keep Android Open: https://keepandroidopen.org/
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/11/android-developer-verification-early.html
Holy shit that’s a terrible idea and the best reason I’ve ever heard for banning sideloading.
You say selling point but really it’s an exploitation point.