Yes to more app stores. That's explicitly required in the DMA. Of course it will take time for developers to build their own app stores, but Microsoft, for one, is already hard at work. I suspect the same is true of Epic and others. In reality, stores don't need to be much more than responsive wrappers, so we should see some options fast.

As for themes, app icons, and other customisations, the DMA doesn't touch on that. At least, I didn't see any requirements for that. The legislation is intended to ensure equal competition and access for developers. It's not intended to force Apple to allow greater OS customisation, for example. Unless, of course, Apple gives themselves such abilities in other apps.

lol of course the EU is gonna crack that shit down. The law is directly targeting Apple, there won’t be any loopholes.

It just that Apple is gonna make absolutely no fuss about it and silently allow only devices registered in here to side load. Looking forward to it.

The DMA explicitly forbids that. There must be no cost, and no barriers to distributing apps to iOS users. Apple cannot, for example, force developers to sign up with Apple, pay additional fees, or use special certificates.

Honestly, I think the DMA is the most impressive, most comprehensive technology focused piece of legislation in my lifetime. They've clearly gone to great lengths to consider all the ways gatekeepers like Apple might intend to maliciously comply. Further, the EU operates under the principle of "spirit of the law," as opposed to the US, which operates under the principle of the "letter of the law." This means judges don't take kindly to companies attempting obvious circumvention of the intended principles of the legislation. Even if Apple were to find a loophole, they probably won't be allowed to exploit it.