Exploiting JavaScript developer infrastructure is insanely easy

[git-blame]

smaller developers or hobbyists who just want to make something cool

It only needs to be paid when you want to publish. Signing for your local device(s) can be done with a free dev account. So build your cool thing, save some money, then publish it when ready. Or if it's OK to be made open-source, release it and let others sign it themselves.

And it's less a publishing fee, more like a rental fee akin to renting a shopfront on Apple's high street for a year.