Difference is in the fact they don’t have any incentive in checking submitted apps to alternative stores. Does it even launches? Does it use private APIs that will break tomorrow? Who cares. Surely not Apple. It’s on that alternative stores.
But if they asked to block an app due to breach of a law, they will oblige.
Your argument was that this is a distinction without a difference. I pointed out the difference: apps on alternative app stores exist until Apple is legally forced to remove them.