A "Super. Computer." with an "OS" which I can not use to write a program to run on that same "OS".
But I know, you meant full-on apps. If we lived in a world where there were only locked-down, iOS-type computers, I'd agree with your indignation. But I think there's room enough for the iPad and all the other things out there. (Besides, can you imagine creating an app on the iPad? That'd take some incredible UI to not be awful. I do hope it comes along someday though.)
So I conclude that, technically, it is "better than average." You wouldn't expect to write programs on a toaster, would you? (Although you probably could because toasters will run NetBSD. But toasters running NetBSD are not the average.)
If you are similar to me, i.e. you need a proper computer where you can hack away and do whatever you want, you were never meant to be an iPad customer. Due to the way Apple handles its operating system, you are at their mercy if you hope to be coding on an iPad anytime soon. I hope that your wishes come true but it might just not work out.
When I notice that I can't do important things with a certain operating system, I move on and look for something more suitable. For me a computer should do exactly what I tell it and it should only be constrained by its hardware. I'm disgusted by software that artificially imposes limitations on what I can do with the computer I literally own.