This may be unpopular opinion, but IMO this is a good approach from Google. If you can't get 12 people to download your app then there is no reason to spam and keep it in the Google Play. I went through this process a few times as well and while I found it frustrating as well, I believe it's a good initial filter for spammers.

All it does is have people pay a couple of hundred bucks on Fiverr to get chinese clickworkers do install your app.

Except Google is now also starting to block apk installs so the only way to share toy apps is now the Play Store. Want to share your app with 10 other people? Too bad you're less than 12.