1) It's a patent. Apple patents lots of things that never make it into products.
2) Look at this in the light of recently-announced ResearchKit - if they were to implement this, it would be as an option for devices provided by researchers to collect data and locked down in such a way as to facilitate data collection.
Yes, in some fashion I guess one could interpret that all this is just a user-aid to ‘help’ them do what they want but don’t have the willpower to do so without some device to remind them. Okay.
Reading the filing, it does say “option” and such but it is not done so with direct specificity the USER has complete control over its functionality.
I’ve had enough iPhones, iTunes, etc. to come to the conclusions that they can make it damned difficult for the average user to change preselected options to their will and to make sure other applications functions as the USER wants. It is frustrating sometimes.
Regardless, I realize it’s a what if protection for them, but it’s just another ‘feature’ in a long line of crap I really don’t look for in a useful product for myself.