What you can't do is distribute a binary for general use without paying Apple ($100/year) to sign your code.

We have to pay $299/year to Apple just for the privilege of putting software on our own fucking devices. That's some bullshit right there.

The free option is worth exactly shit for such a large organization.

The $100/year is to get in the public app store where your app must obey every arbitrary rule that Apple invents. They actually have a clause that says they can kick you out of the store for any reason they want without justification.

Why does anyone defend that sort of behavior?

Highest quality apps, least malware.

But yes, it could still absolutely be safe. Why do you think otherwise? Does Apple hold a patent on publishing malware-free apps? No. They do not.

Your app may be malware free, but it's pretty obvious there are many others which would not be.

So that really sucks for a lot of businesses. Nothing you've said has countered that. I'm really happy that your concerns have been met. Mine and millions of others' haven't.

Exactly. It's a locked down platform.