The short answer is once you are a paid developer, you have paid support from developer relations.

The hierarchy of control is pretty easy to see, though.

1. Most restricted is if your app [contains items that might be adult or objectionable or hateful.][1] Expect Apple to carefully look at an application that has  something widely understood to have racial undertones like a Nazi Swastica or a US Confederate flag. Based on the country in which you want to sell that app, expect to handle sensitive content with care.
1. Less restricted is if your app is a portal to [user generated content][2]. You absolutely have to disclose this, but there may be more latitude to pass review when you’re not embedding the content in your app.
1. Even less restricted is of your item is a book or music item - that is about expressing your artistic and intellectual ideas and not that Apple endorses your lyrics or writing.
1. The most free expression is a web app - just make your Applications into a progressive web app or offline web app and there is no review. Anyone interested in participating in free speech is free to run your app without Apple or anyone else reviewing it. (Except perhaps the government where people live)

I would say, think about _why_ your app has to be on the App Store and not a web app if it’s just a discussion forum or place for people to gather. Free speech means the government can’t take actions, it doesn’t mean any company needs to host your free speech.

Apple’s review guidelines should help you decide if you want to pay the $100 

- https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/

  [1]: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/300753/app-rejected-for-age-rating-despite-having-no-adult-content-whatsoever
  [2]: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/364966/what-does-does-your-app-contain-display-or-access-third-party-content-mean-f