>if the user uses iTunes to manage his device this dozen different bundles would then need to be downloaded as there's no way for Apple to know for certain which devices will be synchronized using that iTunes installation in the future.
Good point - I'd forgotten that some people still manage their applications using iTunes!
> I don't believe iOS AppStore bundles have every been stripped. I'm not even sure they could be since they're signed (unless you jailbreak).
My understanding is that when you submit your app to the App Store, Apple actually re-sign it with their identity instead, so I guess that theoretically they could remove resources from your bundle and then sign it again, before sending it to your device. But they don't do this.