I'm pissed off at Microsoft for how they're treating Win Phone developers

I knew they would not let me publish and distribute Windows Phone 8 apps through ANY other distribution channel other than their store, but I thought to myself "okay, I can at least build some concept apps and see if I want to publish them later" ... but now, it turns out you have to pay for a developer account, just to register your phone to be able to test your software on it.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windowsphone/develop/ff769508(v=vs.105).aspx

That's right. You need to register your device with an active developer account, (and for no reason other than being evil and greedy, they limit the number of devices to three. So expect to pay double if you want to test on a variety of devices and form factors).

Are people just OK with this? Am I crazy for thinking this is crazy? How many hobbyists are going to pay for the privilege of developing for Microsoft's new walled garden Shouldn't it be the other way round, or at least they provide you with a development toolchain for free, since they seem so desperate to get apps for the platform?

I know $99 isn't a lot of money, but it's not the sum that bothers me, it's the fact that there IS a sum. Also, it's annual, so stop paying, and your app vanishes forever. I'm a hobbyist and I mostly develop for Windows desktop, where I provide all my software free of charge and open source.

HackerNews, what's your opinion on this? Will you be pouring your own money into Microsoft's pockets for the privilege of supporting their product?

PS: I know they have a super-special deal on developer accounts this week, but I won't even pay the $8 they're asking.

http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2012/10/30/announcing-the-new-windows-phone-8-developer-platform.aspx