As someone that duct-tapes hidden AirTags in my luggage (replacing former use of Tile, but AirTags have a bigger network and I use an iPhone) this is not good news for me. I have close to a 0% concern about stalkers, and I have a significant concern about thievery while traveling. I have an AirTag in my luggage, on my keychain, in my wallet, and in various other places /specifically/ to ensure that while traveling I can recover my belongings and deter thievery. This just ruined all of that.
Well, anti-stalking notifications for AirTags have existed on iPhones (and Androids with an app) since the beginning. This only adds built-in support to Androids as well. So, sorry to break it to you, but your system has always been set up to notify any thieves with an iPhone (or a free app installed). Anti-theft is an anti-goal for the AirTag, and, in my opinion, that is the correct choice, because vigilantism is really not a good idea. What would you do with the location of your stolen item? Report it to the police, they won't do anything, and you shouldn't go to that location, the risk isn't worth it.
Vigilantism is a straw man, though. No one said anything about going to that location. And police being useless isn't necessarily a global phenomenon.
Just knowing that you might be tracked when stealing would have been a massive deterrent. Now you know you can just hang out with the stuff you've stolen half an hour to see if it's tagged, and then take it home without repercussions.
AirTags explicitly claim they aren't for anti-theft. I use them to track my luggage so they don't get sent to the wrong airport, not to deter thievery.
All the same I wonder how this will fare on airlines where many people are doing exactly your setup for their carry-ons.
