They take a cut for microtransactions that they process, but you are free to use your own service. They do require price parity. That link doesn't seem related at all.
Do you have any sources on how restrictive valve are or have been with that, or is that just speculation? Can developers default to their own payment systems and bypass valve's, or is theirs required to take a secondary, less-accessible option (when it's even allowed)?
https://www.reddit.com/r/pathofexile/comments/1ogbo7/will_mo...