The analogy isn't perfect, but you could say this about any product that gets iteratively improved annually, like cars. Just because there is a new model that is intentionally better than last year's model doesn't mean it is a planned obsolescence scheme. Particularly in the technology world, almost all companies are hoping to have an improved product every year... it doesn't mean they are willfully manipulating you.
Your reasoning is sound. But a host of evidence strongly suggest they do manipulate you.
There's doing better this year (lessons learned etc), and doing less than optimal now so you can do better next year. If I recall correctly, Apple did that once with the IPhone: the case had room for a camera that wasn't there in this year's model.
On a different note, there is better and there is different. The design of cars, for instance, changes much faster than the underlying mechanics (engine, safety…) improve. As far as I can tell, Apple isn't too guilty of this. Their design though exquisitely shiny, is relatively stable.
There's also the timing of product: most goods now are designed not to last (designers actually learn at school how important this is for their future customers). The most famous example is light bulbs. They only last 1500 to 2000 hours because the biggest vendors at the time colluded to limit their lifetimes. They got sued, but since, despite numerous patents for long-lasting light bulbs, you don't find any for sale. Apple used this strategy once with irreplaceable IPods' batteries. They eventually backed off because a consumer union sued them.
Going back to the IPad, if Apple really cared about making the best product possible, they would have made the processor replaceable, and the memory extend-able, so that when they inevitably improve, customer can replace them at lower cost (both in money and in resources).
Now, I'm not willing to blame Evil Corp™ right away: they just maximize profit. So, I'd rather ask what in our society generates such profit maximizers.
I was mostly with you until the part about the 'best [iPad] possible'. Making every part in a device like the iPad replaceable would not make a very nice product at all. Ever used an off-the-shelf Dell? You can upgrade it forever, but it's rickety junk.
Besides, even if they do purposefully hold off on stuff that would make it better only to manipulate us and profit (which I doubt[a]), it still doesn't make your first-gen iPad useless. It works great still!
[a]: To take the example of the camera, they probably weren't able to make it a good experience. The software was still buggy, or they were waiting for more readily available parts (supply chain is a big deal!), etc.
In short, they aren't bricking original iPad's, so there's no reason to get upset about a new one. You can simply hold onto yours. If you can't because of peer-pressure or you require the newest status symbol, that's not Apple's problem -- Indeed they would be stupid not to capitalize on that.
> Making every part in a device like the iPad replaceable would not make a very nice product at all.
Why not? What is wrong with sockets? Or plugs? Or screws? How would they make the IPad significantly thicker, heavier, more fragile, less powerful, or clunkier? It would at worst make it 10% more expensive. But that would waste so much less resources when it's time to upgrade, or when one piece is broken. Oh wait, it wouldn't be as profitable, so let's pretend it just sucks and forget about it.
[a]: Good example, actually. They could either have put the camera anyway, knowing the software could be patched later, or just wait until it's ready, or make it possible to add the camera later (maybe requiring an approved specialist to solder it on). They just preferred the more lucrative path. Like nearly everyone else in this planet. I can hardly blame them personally for that, because:
> Indeed they would be stupid not to capitalize on that.
From a selfish point of view, I agree: companies would be silly not to do everything in their power to maximize profit. Even taking advantage of human weaknesses, or waste resources, or dumping trash in the wild, or <insert lots of horrible things here>.
I just say that something is wrong with such a system.
