I don't think patents have to be defended like trademarks and even if they do Apple could definitely license the patents to people who pay for the developer program. I don't think this helps their case against HTC at all.
If this approach is indeed the case, then it is extreme and counter productive.
I hope that the case is actually what was stated above, and that apple releases this in their next API version, its a sensible approach.
then again, since there is only one way to load in apps, they can dictate whatever disabling of technology they want, with poorly explained reasons, and it stinks.
Apple may be doing this to demonstrate that it owns multi-touch and that it will not tolerate 3rd party multi-touch implementations.
This would be in their defense in the suit against HTC.