Wake up and smell the developers (oh god, n/m) (Score 1)

Can anyone explain the business sense? What does Apple gain by taking such a hard stance on not condoning modifications? Why wouldn't they have a hands-off approach, and not stand in the way of "developers"? Other technologies seem to be gaining so much more from a formalized, open API such as new users, cost-free (to Apple) additional features, and great press from supporting open source on a mobile device which desperately needs a corporate sugar daddy. At least it's my perception that the reputation and success of a company is benefitted by a wide and open developer community, maybe the board of directors have a different take (slightly fewer new cars per year). It seems to me that Apple is hoping to sell "toggle" features piecemeal at ridiculous additional cost, and make tons of money through an exclusivity agreement which is frankly going to severely limit the amount of money they can make with open carrier choice. But they know as well as we that there will be a minute fraction of people who will say "I want a different carrier so bad, I'll risk destroying my device" and "I want a custom application on there to the degree that I may not be able to use the phone component". But I think an overwhelming majority (and these people are the cash cows) will simply follow exactly whatever Apple says on the 10-step list inside the box just to get their iPhone activated. I don't understand why companies act like they're going to lose ridiculous money when someone steps up with an acute understanding of the technology and the willpower and skill to manipulate it. There is still a moderate technical challenge in modifying such a device as an end-user, which is a significant enough barrier to prevent the hordes from flocking to it by the thousands it would take to impact their revenue. Why not support this subculture with tools, and enable them to produce even more compelling features for normal users, and make available a Firefox-like Add-on hub? Isn't the fact that the words "firmware" "patch" "flash" and "usb" are essentially jibberish to the average joe user of this device enough to disuade the perception that the Unwashed Masses are going to hijack their product and form a new pseudo-Apple who will take over their IPs, sink their stock and put M80s in all their toilets?