How is it being punished by app stores if it's not the app stores themselves creating said clones? More clickbait trash...
This isn’t an honorable way to make a living.
Harm is not limited to business and finance. It's just as harmful when good, charitable works are subverted by companies looking for profit. If nothing else, consumers are harmed by having the superior free version hidden away, crowded out by the ad- and spyware-infested apps.
What those developers are doing is like charging an entrance fee to a public park, knowing many won't realize the park is free. But the park isn't a business, so there's no harm...