Is there a reason to install, say, VLC from F-droid instead of play store?

I'm a fan/contributor/user of FOSS, but not an RMS-style purist. Is there some advantage I'd get installing OSMAnd or VLC, etc. from there instead of the playstore? Some privacy thing or frequent updates? I'm basically worried that I'd be hurting VLC's exposure by not adding to their download numbers in the playstore with no real advantage for me or VLC or FOSS in general. I'm explicitly asking if I know an app is FOSS and ensure the author's the right one, why not download from the playstore?