Isn't that because Microsoft locked Windows 10 on ARM down and forces you to use the Microsoft store? There are no competing stores on Windows on ARM by design.
Windows on ARM was Store-only back in Surface RT days. It's not the case with the more recent take that's used in devices sold today. Now, they come out of the box in S Mode, which is Store-only (although the store now supports desktop apps, unlike in RT); but you can easily switch that off, and then it's as open as Wintel.