I'm not reading that Apple employees don't value OS in OP's message, I'm reading that Apple is banning OS contributions, unless special exemptions are given, and that it is hard to get those.

Is OP wrong in his description of Apple's rules and permission wrt OS?

That's a correct summary. This is the reason why people who join Apple suddenly abandon their OSS projects.

It's worth noting there was a huge debate internally about this around the time I left, with many people dissatisfied with the policy.

>It's largely a waste of time due to the extreme anti corp bias on HN

I like this. Sums up a lot of things about HN.