That's just dumb, please tell me it's a bug, not a feature
This is incredibly dumb. What sort of Apple "philosophy" is at work here? Please tell me this is a bug and not a "feature." Apple software is full of stuff like this. Of course, Apple will never acknowledge the issue if it is a bug, until they decide to get around to fix it.
To add insult to injury, Apple's own case doesn't allow you to stand the iPad up in portrait orientation safely. (Too precarious, not the right angle).