What is true is that if you want users to be able to just download and run (rather than download, run an obscure command, and then run your software), you have to pay Apple to notarize your builds.
> rather than download, run an obscure command, and then run your software
This also isn't true.
On a Mac (or on Windows) software that has not been digitally signed will show a scary dialog box telling you that software you download off the internet might be malicious.
On the Mac, to bypass this, you just right click the software and pick "Open".
