alt Hacker News> it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google
This is inaccurate. The enforcement is through Google Mobile Services. The article fails to point out that some manufacturers build versions/forks of Android that do not include GMS, but these are still technically Android.
A distinction without a difference.
If you want to develop an app for more than a miniscule fraction of Android devices, you need Google's blessing.