Yes, it's a real shame that Apple treats developers this way. They are expected to develop top-quality apps but only using the Simulator.
A more normal behavior would have been to provide international developers a way to order iPads from day one. Something like the ADC Hardware Purchase Program but for iPhone developers.
Yeah, and then Apple would be surprised by the huge US demand, no ?
Of course anybody wanting the iPad already did something similar but it's a drag and non-US developers/companies shouldn't "smuggle" iPads out of the country but buy them in their respective countries.
A more normal behavior would have been to provide international developers a way to order iPads from day one. Something like the ADC Hardware Purchase Program but for iPhone developers.