Meanwhile, iPhones have no cheap developer option either. When has developer equated with cheap?
Not that I'm defending it, but it looks like Google is moving from being a platform provider to a (for profit) device provider.
Given the endless bullshit surrounding third party vendor foot dragging, abandonment, etc., I'm not sure they had any other choice. For my part, I'm done with anything Android that isn't directly from Google (or maybe Samsung, for a phone). And even Google, I distrust, after they left Motorola and my Moto X to "rust" before I was even done with its contract/payments term.
The Moto X is still getting prompt updates, regardless of the sale, no? My Moto G does at least. Certainly no rust on it.