> If you sell me a CPU, I want the power to program it, period.
Uhhh, there are CPUs in your frickin' wires now, dude! There are several CPUs in you car for which you generally don't have access. Ditto for your fridge. Your microwave. Your oven. Even your toaster.
We're literally awash in CPUs. You need to update your thinking.
Now, if you said something like "if you sell me a general-purpose computing device, then I want the power to program it, period" then I would fully agree with you. BTW, you can develop software for your own personal use on the iPad. It's not cheap or easy (doesn't utilize commonly-used developer tooling), but it can be done without having to jump through any special hoops.
Armed with that, we can amend your statement to "if you sell me a general-purpose computing device, then I want the power to program it using readily-available, and commonly-utilized programming tools."
I think that statement better captures what I presume to be your intent.
> but it can be done without having to jump through any special hoops.
You are really stretching the definition of "special hoops" here. On Android sideloading is a switch hidden in your settings menu; on iOS it's either a municipal feature or a paid benefit of their developer program.
Relative to every single other commercial, general-purpose operating system I've used, I would say yeah, Apple practically defines what "special hoops" look like online.
I do actually want the ability to program the CPUs in my car the same way I'm able to buy parts and mods for every mechanical bit in there down to the engine. In fact we have laws about that sort of thing that don't apply to the software.
Uhhh, there are CPUs in your frickin' wires now, dude! There are several CPUs in you car for which you generally don't have access. Ditto for your fridge. Your microwave. Your oven. Even your toaster.
We're literally awash in CPUs. You need to update your thinking.
Now, if you said something like "if you sell me a general-purpose computing device, then I want the power to program it, period" then I would fully agree with you. BTW, you can develop software for your own personal use on the iPad. It's not cheap or easy (doesn't utilize commonly-used developer tooling), but it can be done without having to jump through any special hoops.
Armed with that, we can amend your statement to "if you sell me a general-purpose computing device, then I want the power to program it using readily-available, and commonly-utilized programming tools."
I think that statement better captures what I presume to be your intent.