[crankylinuxuser]

Are we on HN seriously arguing who controls an iOS device?

Can I:

     1. Download iOS program binary
     2. Install said iOS binary
     3. Inspect files copied on by installing binary
     4. Modify said files

The answer to all of those is no. Who can?

Apple.

[earenndil]

You can, if you jailbreak. I'm not defending apple, I think it's incredibly shitty what they've done but what you're describing is absolutely possible. Beyond that, having modified those files, it's possible to install the modified program on a non-jailbroken device.