Got to be different than an iPad, as many probably have at least one still functional iPad laying in a drawer that could stand in for this. If it's really just an iPad, one could buy an iPad for presumably less money, get any number of existing wall mounts for tablets for $20 or so and have a fuller functional device (that could even go out with a user and do on-the-go stuff too).
I suspect the rumored HomeOS will ONLY run on this thing and not iPads... much like tvOS runs only on AppleTV instead of also running on- say- Macs like a hypothetical Front Row 2 app.