> It is standardised and the standards are freely available
Same.
> you still need to have an official "blessing" to actually access a production API endpoint (even for your own account)
> you need a legal entity that has some highly specific and entirely meaningless certificates that are hard (and potentially expensive) to get
Same though not entirely meaningless.
> you'll still need to negotiate access with each bank individually.
Not same.
> It is standardised and the standards are freely available
Same.
> you still need to have an official "blessing" to actually access a production API endpoint (even for your own account)
Same.
> you need a legal entity that has some highly specific and entirely meaningless certificates that are hard (and potentially expensive) to get
Same though not entirely meaningless.
> you'll still need to negotiate access with each bank individually.
Not same.