By running virtual desktop using MacInCloud, MacStadium, HostMyApple, Xcode Club etc.

Good to point out that iOS developers want a good solid laptop. It is definitely the case though that there are developers who don't/won't do iOS development but want a solid, well-built laptop with good components, good support, and good drivers. I have no idea if the Surface laptops fit that bill, but I assume they have lots of support from Microsoft.

I've been running a ZBook G3 with Debian 9 and have been having a pretty good experience so far. The laptop feels pretty good but I'm sure a MacBook Pro would be a step up in terms of hardware quality.

I have a MacOS vm running on my new surface pro 2017, I really wanted built in LTE and a detachable keyboard for reading articles, docs, email, etc

XCode even connects over WiFi to my iPhone when both are on the same network, but I did have to jump through a few hoops to get it all working

Not for Swift/Objective C - you'll need a Mac device to run the simulator. I mainly used my Macbooks for Python, node.js, some C and bash.

Edit: changed emulator to simulator (which is true, it's x64 iOS).