Are you confusing an SDK with an IDE? IIRC, the Palm launched an SDK early on, with a full device emulator. I don't see why an IDE is a basic requirement. I've been on and off IDEs for the past 2000 and, quite frankly, I am perfectly happy with Emacs.
If you were approved you got access, but most didn't. I think jwz ranted about this too. There were all these devs who wanted to write for it, but weren't given access. Eventually I gave the phone back.
General rule, your SDK needs to be done a month before product launch -- unless you're Apple.
