Google is already adding a Linux VM terminal app to android (just like the one you have on Chromeos): https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1gpt22g/android_15...

Sounds more to me like Google taking convergence seriously which is a clever way to attack Apple in the tablet market since Google has no real laptop line to actually cannibalise.

With side loading, nothing really prevents you from doing development on Android apart from the poor UX. Technically, I’m fairly sure Google could probably easily give you access to a full sandboxed Linux environment if they think it’s a good idea.