I can't download apps

This is a requirement through Apple is to be able to have a payment method whether it has any funds on it whatsoever to be able to download apps. More of a safety precaution to make sure they get paid for the ones that you’re actually subscribing to and that you’re of age to buy certain apps to cover them legally etc.. If you have a debit card or any cash card meaning Apple Cash card that you can put funding on a Dollar will work you should be able to download all the apps you want. And you may be able to set up Apple Cash as your payment method to download the apps as well. I had Apple Cash as my main payment method and I was able to download apps no problem

You can skip the credit card requirement if you go into the App Store first and select a free app to download before you create an account. You can set up an Apple ID on the computer through the iTunes program or with the App Store app on an iOS device.

What app? If the developer wants to charge a subscription, then thats his prerogative, not Apples.

Developers can be quirky, some of them want to be paid for their hard earned work.