I think your first point is the most important here. I worked at Apple in 2009, shortly after the creation of the Apple University program. I never worked with or in the Apple U initiative, but I have friends who did. Generally speaking, they explain the program as an attempt to codify and disseminate Apple's corporate culture -- with the eventual passing of Steve Jobs certainly in mind at the time. Apple U was an implicit acknowledgement that Apple would need to thrive after Steve's death or retirement, and that the Apple way of doing things was worth preserving.

It's not an entirely novel concept in the corporate world. After Apple I worked at another large corporation with a charismatic founder. In this case, the founder had passed away over a decade ago. There was a thriving "university" program within the company, dedicated to preserving his business practices and the culture he established. I didn't find much value in its specifics, but I respected its purpose in general.

Company culture is a rare and fragile thing. Especially these days, in our renewed era of "shareholder value" worship, with its twin gods of cost-cutting and homogenization. Apple's culture is a big part of why the company has been successful. To lose sight of that culture would be strategically devastating to the company's future.

Lest I sound like too much of a fawning fanboy, I'll reel it in. As I mentioned, I've never dealt with or attended any of these programs. I have no idea how good or worthwhile they really are. Nevertheless, I understand the impetus for having created them.