Agreed. Making microphone input work in iOS Safari was a nightmare. The AudioContext has to be started in response to a tap, but the tap on the permissions dialog to grant microphone access doesn't count.
And, it still doesn't work on iPod Touch, because for some reason Safari there claims it doesn't have a microphone. (It does.)
And, it still doesn't work on iPod Touch, because for some reason Safari there claims it doesn't have a microphone. (It does.)