A code signing certificate does not cost $500 a year. The OP links to an offering by Certum which is just $25 a year plus the cost for a reusable smart card.
Personally, I recently acquired a certificate from HARICA which costs $55 a year if you only buy one year at a time.
Personally, I recently acquired a certificate from HARICA which costs $55 a year if you only buy one year at a time.