Not so sure about that. What happens if you need to restore your iPad 1 and redownload all the Apps? Do you get the latest version, or the latest compatible version of the App, even if the developer dropped support for your iOS version?
The latest version (if it works) - iTunes on your Mac/PC should store the latest compatible one though. Yes, it's a mess. Apple really need some kind of plan for discontinued devices. What happens when a critical flaw is discovered in Mobile Safari 5 and suddenly the 15 million iPad users are vulnerable to drive-by downloads?
They haven't done this for vulnerabilities in either 3.1.3 or 4.2.1, the other two EOL versions. I guess there probably aren't enough users of these to make them attractive to exploits, but the number of users stuck on iOS5 will likely stay in the 8 digits for a while. Whereas many people have been conditioned to buy a new phone every 24 months, I doubt this applies to iPads and iPod Touches as well. I don't know if that kind of number makes them a sufficiently attractive target for criminals.
