People use Android to not have such restrictions.

Something like F-Droid (which published its own builds from source) would likely not be possible with such a model.

First, we don't have this in Android and we're better off.

It's another flavour of gatekeeping.

Second, why do we want to copy apple?

Do you think Google won't revoke the signature for apps like revanced or newpipe or send a c&d to the now doxxed devs?

Main reason apple did that is to limit piracy, nsfw apps and track how many installs so they can still bill the developer for that

to prevent known malware

Nope

"North Korea does [X], what's the problem with [USA/UK/EU] doing [X]?"