Yes, you have to set up billing for the thing with "Store" in the name. What annoys me (and the article mentions something close to it), if your card is ever declined, you can't update apps or download free stuff until you fix your card details or make sure your credit card is paid off enough to clear the declined purchase. That can be truly annoying when some apps require you update just to use them.

I am not sure this warrants it being called a "nightmare". I like the rest of it, personally.

Eh, it'd be better if you didn't have to use the store with an account to download apps that came with the PC. That's my real issue here; it's required for things that probably shouldn't require it. Shouldn't need to enter payment details to update Pages or Keynote.

Same with free apps. If it's free, you shouldn't need to have working payment details to download it.

If that wasn't a thing, your issue would be fixed too.