For those of you who still have your account blocked, I would recommend the following:

  - Call Apple Support at 1-800-275-2273
  - Tell them your account has been blocked in error. Explain how you've been in communication with others who have also been erroneously blocked including those like myself. You can say that we received confirmation from “Isabela at Corporate Executive Relations” that there is an acknowledged glitch that the engineering team is aware of and working to fix.
  - If the support person isn't sympathetic to your case, gracefully get off the phone and call back later and speak to a different person.
  - Post your story on social media, tag Apple.
  - Continue lobbying for an alternative to the App Store and monopolistic walled gardens.