Did we read the same thing? I think Google here said there would be a $25 fee per developer (for those who can't fit in their limited distribution category). I suppose it's much better than a fee per paid install but it's not nothing.

See the "Empowering experienced users" section.

They announced the $25 "verification" plan awhile ago. The new part in this article is that they're going to have it remain possible to install software that didn't do that "verification".

> Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified.