What does "real or apparent" mean here?

[NewHopeR]

Context:

Happily, there are signs of movement in this direction: forexample, The WellcomeTrust says “it is the intrinsic merit of the work, and not the title of thejournal in which an author’s work is published, that should be considered inmaking funding decisions.” We need more funding and hiring bodies to make suchdeclarations. Only then will researchers will be free of the need (real or apparent) to prop up parasitic publishers by sending their best work tobig-name, barrier-based journals.

[SoothingDave]

The researchers mentioned either really, authentically, genuinely feel the need to publish in "big name" journals.

Or their actions make it seem like they feel this need.

Apparent | Define Apparent at Dictionary.com

See definition 3:

according to appearances, initial evidence, incomplete results, etc.;ostensible rather than actual

[NewHopeR]

The researchers mentioned either really, authentically, genuinely feel the need to publish in "big name" journals.

Or their actions make it seem like they feel this need.

Apparent | Define Apparent at Dictionary.com

See definition 3:

according to appearances, initial evidence, incomplete results, etc.;ostensible rather than actual

Thank you.

Is it the "need", not the "researchers will be free of the need" (treat the underlined as a whole) is real or apparent?

[SoothingDave]

Yes, the need is what is real or apparent.