They already have Android phones so the vast vast majority already have Google accounts.

I can see both sides. I want them to not require it but as a developer used to creating lean projects I can understand why they do.

Is this serious? Why is it not a good look?

Remember 95%+ of potential users of this app have not spent a minute concerned about Googles data harvesting.

The alternative is forcing users to create yet another account/password during signup. This always infuriates me as a user - especially in the days before iOS 18 when there was no password manager support on iOS.

It doesn't really feel like "forcing users into adtech surveillance platforms" if they're using Android - they already have a Google account it's literally built into the operating system.

The goal was and is to minimize friction and maximize security. For all the flaws of consumer subscription as a business model, it's beauty is that we don't have perverse incentives. Users pay us to protect their attention so we make money by being good at that. We don't have to or want to sell their data.