Citation needed that Google actively blocked installation of the benchmarking app. None of the links support that claim. If Google want to block benchmarking,

Citation needed that Google actively blocked installation of the benchmarking app. None of the links support that claim. If Google want to block benchmarking, they would have had their lawyers add that clause to the reviewers' contracts/NDAs as a condition of getting the device early. Since this is a technical issue, I'm guessing the benchmarking software didn't properly configure their Play Store account and mark the P8 or the new Android OS as compatible with the software. That would prevent it from being installed via the Play Store but not via sideloading. Disclosure, I used to work at Google on Android so I have some familiarity with how Play Store rollouts work.