This is Apple; they value different things than most people… sometimes warranted, results in offering a much better experience, and pushes everything forward (see MagSafe -> Qi2 for recent example), other times they’re just regarded as late adopters. The detraction of visual aesthetics from folding crease is apparently one of such things that they care about.
iOS supports VPN out of the gate. Apps just make it easier to configure. Please don’t spew divisive misinformation, regardless if this is ignorant to the facts or otherwise.