I am wondering what led you to expect that the ipad would be something different; was it apple's history of making non-locked-down devices? its tendency to produce metric truckloads of insanely popular consumer devices?<p>I am thinking of a general answer to posts of this sort: If you don't like it, don't buy it.  And further, given the nature of this board, if you see a need (e. g., something people want), build it.  Apple has seen a need, and it is building something that people want.  You are seeing a need for something else, and it is possible that other people want it too, so why not go build it?