iOS Developer Program Clarification

I'd do a search for all the details, but the bottom line is:
You can't test your apps on a device without signing up.
You can't post your apps on AppStore without signing up.
signing up is $99/year.

You can learn programming / iOS dev without signing up:
Buy Xcode, buy books, watch videos, learn the ObjC, API's, etc.. it's free/near free to learn.

You can test on the Simulator which works fine for learning programming.

 

If i am not mistaken, the apple dev forums are not accessible to non members

 

Before joining, make sure you are 18 or over, have access to a Mac running Lion, have a credit card and ADC account in your legal name and with your correct address (or incorporation papers for your corporation). If you want to do paid apps, make sure you have a bank account that can accept wire transfers. Read the iOS standard developer agreement carefully. Then read the documentation on Apple's developer site on how to use all the dev program's features.