[brudgers]

Apple's developer model for iOS is sharecropping. Wanting to develop for iOS is like wanting to farm in Mississippi in 1913. You can't buy title to the land, only rent it for whatever cut of the profits the landlord thinks the market will bear.

Historically, Apple has never pursued a B2B model for relationships and this translates into the current iOS environment. Apple treats iOS developers like any other consumers - it provides a small range of products, a single set of terms, and customer service commensurate with the price. It's a sound business model and leverages their core competencies.

Developers are a necessary evil in the pursuit of selling more hardware, not something about which top management is passionate - Cook is focused on logistics not making happy hackers.