While I don't agree with the tone of the OP, as a user outside the US, I can't condone RIM's decision to fragment their app strategy.
Yesterday's financial earnings call confirm a poor performance in the US and a growing adoption in foreign markets. RIM needs to consider this situation when releasing a global product and the functionalities it will support.
If RIM needs to add additional resources in order to develop a US-only Podcast app and an international podcast app, then so be it.
The OP's example of a pdf reader is on point: legal licenses issues aside, foreigners should not get an incomplete tablet with incomplete features.
