With restrictions I meant if you want to distribute your apps in iOS, you must use the App Store and pay your fee (the yearly one as well). What other option do you have right now? None, and that's why devs are there right now.
So in order to have that option, there must be sufficient paying customers, but it can be argued that the paying customers are there because of Apple’s restrictions.
Unless someone came around and showed they have a better track record than Apple, I wouldn’t be interested in changing. But I suspect they would be just as restrictive as Apple is now.
Not worrying about malware and tech support is worth so much in saved time.