Google changed the way their are the Gatekeepers. It now is tied to requiring a software developer ID attached to a real person; Developer Verification. [0]

And how side-loading will have to go through ADB versus just allowing the application to be installed by a file manager.

This is why GrapheneOS and /e/OS have been popping up, along with Linux based alternatives.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47251763

Now instead of using the excuse that "Apple does it too" they can use the excuse "Apple does it even worse"

You can thank Epic Games.