You can develop for iOS without actually owning Apple hardware.
I develop an app and use MacinCloud[1] to build the iOS version. Costs $1/hour on demand. The hardest part was getting a two-factor enabled apple id. I actually had to borrow a physical iPhone just to activate the two-factor authentication. Once it is activated, you can get away without an iPhone again.
Just saying that it is possible without the $1500 hardware. It still sucks that Apple makes one jump through all these hoops...