The irony of calling content blockers, which provide prebuilt block lists to the browser, to compile into an efficient format, “bloated” while suggesting that JavaScript extensions running before every single resource request to check if it should be blocked are not, is beyond ridiculous.

the fee exists, at least from what I have gleaned historically, to provide some mild barrier to people who would otherwise spam the App Store with crap. By building a modest amount of hoops, it keeps the laziest spammers out. (Also something about "paying to keep the lights on", as if AAPL needs money these days)

In practice, well, just search this site for threads about it. I'm not sure, like you indicate, it's worthwhile for the browser ecosystem.

Google Webstore has a one time fee of $5. Surely there is a more reasonable middle ground.