> ... Apple has just pulled VPN apps from its App Store and > ...you can't sideload apps makes iOS an untenable OS choice.

I'm pretty sure you can still install VPN apps (e.g. Potatso 2) from the iOS App Store, although perhaps they're not available if you're logged in with a China iTunes account. iOS allows you to install apps from multiple iTunes accounts on the same device, though, so this doesn't seem like much of a limitation.

(Not sure if they're also blocking by IP address.)