A fair and efficient market /s
This is why you can’t download WireGuard from the WireGuard website. You have to identify yourself to Apple with an Apple ID (which requires a non-disposable email and working phone number) to download free privacy software.
I'm not sure that's entirely true. It's really a matter of how the extension is packaged: app extension for App Store or system extension for Developer ID.
"On macOS most Network Extension provider types can be packaged as either an app extension or a system extension. App extensions run in a user context; if the user logs out, the provider is terminated. System extensions run in a global context, completely independent of the logged in user." https://developer.apple.com/documentation/technotes/tn3134-n...
It is the case that Safari web extensions are Mac App Store only, as opposed to Safari app extensions, which can be Developer ID.