I know it feels like this might be part of a big plan against sideloading, but from my time at Google, I’d say it’s more likely to be the idea of some exec trying to get a promo.

Do you think you were in a position there to hear about any of the actual "big plans" of Google, in case such do exist? Nobody is saying that every last employee who executes on such tasks are "in" on some big secret plan.

Also the two are not in conflict. People are getting promoted for things that advance company goals. They are following rational self-interest of the company.