Agreed. I kind of doubt this is an ideological decision. Just like the app store, there is no mechanism for someone who has downloaded an app to redistribute it to others.

So it's the same as Apple then. "Can you distribute GPL?" "No."

Actually, it's better than Apple. Apple will let you distribute GPL'd applications until a takedown notice is issued even though doing so is illegal; Microsoft is clear about it up-front.

Cite a source, please. Apple has said nothing about GPL software. They did however respond to a takedown request by a copyright holder.

Where has Apple said "No"? I seem to recall a whole bunch of speculation and uncertainty surrounding Apple not making a clear statement one way or the other.