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Yes, in addition to the account, there is the payment of fees, among other things.
There is more than a payment and an account. They need to validate your email,phone and identity. If that's how they wish to make the play store, that's perfectly acceptable.
Now they'll want you to disclose all of that above to matter what. You're just trying to make your own app? you can't attempt it til you follow their validation requirements and to pay them for such privilege. Make something they don't necessarily agree with? Falsely accused by the leading competitors? Revoke the certificate and it gets removed and get blacklisted. You just know they won't validate false claims.
If they really gave two shits about security and integrity. Why are their ads and play store still pushing malware? Why do they continue to propagate scams and push fake top search results?
Why does this always feel like a control, identification and money thing. Disadvantage a few , compromise everyone and stop nothing. All just for a shred of security.