well why the **** wouldnt you allow GPS in airplane mode?

GPS is tied to location services, and unless you are using a GPS app with maps data stored locally on the iPhone, an internet connection is required to download and access maps data. GPS reception without maps data and location services is worthless.

You can enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth after activating Airplane Mode primarily for use on an airplane - an airplane with wi-fi access available that requires all other radios and receivers being off during flight.

An aeroplane with wi-fi access? - isn't this all in GHz? Might as well just leave the phone on.

Yes, what rock have you been living under? Many airplanes have wi-fi access now especially for longer flights which requires enabling Airplane Mode with a cell phone to turn off all other radios/receivers followed by turning wi-fi access on. You need to take up not being concerned about leaving a cell phone on during flight with the FAA.

Why isn't there an option to disable the phone function or just lock all sim functions?

I can't even find an app with this function.

There is, it is called Airplane Mode.

There aren't any 3rd party apps for this since 3rd party apps don't have access to private iPhone APIs for security and other important reasons. There probably is for an Android device which is the Windows of the mobile OS environment in regards to security or severe lack thereof.

If there is another device available that meets your needs, get that device instead.

1. there is clearly a use for enabling GPS whilst phone functions are disabled,

Not by everyone.

2. Apple don't currently provide any solution, and

Apple doesn't, correct.

3. Apple won't let anyone else provide that solution.

3rd party apps don't have access to private iPhone APIs for security or other important reasons which such a 3rd party app would require.

Since this is a must have for you, that should be your first consideration when purchasing a device - devices that include the option should be the only devices considered. Purchase a device that meets your most important needs/wants.

Well perhaps because the FCC/FAA would not approve the iPhone Airplane mode unless the GPS function is disabled? Planes use GPS, maybe that's why...

www.apple.com/feedback

Hopefully they will take note...

The iPhone does not run a "full blown unix operating system", and having an iPhone near an avalanche beacon is probably not within the environmental requirement parameters for the iPhone to begin with.

I would prefer Apple spending their time and resources improving or adding features that would apply to the majority and not a select few or very small percentage.

The requirement to use GPS in airplane mode is by no means limited to a "select few or very small percentage" of users. Anyone who uses their iPhone as a hiking, biking, or trail riding GPS in areas outside of cell tower range experiences a severe battery drain related to the phone trying to "ping" for cell towers which rapidly flattens the battery. This effectively makes the iPhone an impotent GPS compared to Android and Windows Phone devices, both of which allow the GPS receiver circuitry to continue to operate in airplane mode. The only work-around for iPhone users is to pop out their SIM card, which is fiddly and risky.

This thread is over a year and a half old. Your suggestions are valid but nobody from Apple will read them here. Post on the feedback page. Apple will read them but they will not answer:

www.apple.com/feedback