Sometimes people want to sell things for below their cost, to let more people enjoy them than otherwise would. A scalper takes advantage of this incorrectly low price, buys the item, and resells it for it's true market value.
Except that scalpers are also a part of the market. When a large percentage of original purchases are by scalpers, they artificially up the market value.
Nope they can artificially increase the price by hoarding and making it less available.
Think about any commodity... everyone needs sugar/salt, what if somebody starts buying all the sugar from the market and hoards it... some people will start consuming less but the prices will increase due to lack of supply and more or less constant demand.. and then the person can open floodgates and make some dough in the process... Pretty common in Third world countries (and hence illegal)
Yes apple could have made the launch price higher - but then they would have to lower it after the launch to get the rest of the customers.
But the last time they did that, there was a firestorm as all the early customers were very mad at the very quick price reduction.
So apple chose to start at the more longterm price.
The correct way for them to handle it would be a premium or collectors or limited time edition. AKA the first ### buyers get a special dodad, or a signed shirt or some item to make them feel important. Then they pay extra, and don't feel cheated when it goes on sale at the regular market price.
Sometimes people want to sell things for below their cost, to let more people enjoy them than otherwise would. A scalper takes advantage of this incorrectly low price, buys the item, and resells it for it's true market value.