Non-jailbroken functionality like Tasker (Android)?

I've been an iPhone user since the first one and an Apple user since 1987 when my parents bought a Mac SE (I was six, totally flipped out). 90% of the time I'd never consider jumping ship to a non-Apple device. But when I've read about the functionality that Tasker can provide to Android users (incredible automation capabilities) I get insanely, intensely jealous. I want my phone to be able to do something close to that.

Are there any ways to get similar functionality without jailbreaking my phone? Am I being hopelessly old-fashioned by not jailbreaking? Help me understand how I can get this nagging Tasker obsession out of my head!