As a registered developer, there's a clear path to reach out to Apple and make my case, but that doesn't guarantee I can use the MAS. A lot of devs don't see a need for it though, because the Mac userbase, in general, knows how to get apps on the www.

As long as I can distribute outside, I'm okay with it. But I, and even the biggest Apple fans in the press, have acknowledged the walls closing in.