Economic rules only exist to serve society.

The iPad & iPhone lockdown are simply a way for apple to give themselves a monopoly on software and content sales.

It's leveraging success in one market (shiny looking hardware) into dominance in another (content provision, software sales)

If they keep it up and are successful you can bet your ass the regulators will fine them for it, it's far more destructive than MS bundling media player.

Of course the end service may be better, but thats neither here nor there, it's hugely anti-competitive.

Does rather depend how in-thrall to no-regulation academics & business leaders our politicians get though.