Is this a problem? If you write articles saying that you don't like me, I probably won't send you any free stuff or invite you round to my house. They're a consumer electronics and software company, not a government department. If they don't want to talk to you or send you any free stuff, that's up to them and I'm 100% fine with that.
Why do you need to visit them or get free equipment from them to write articles anyway? Wait for it to be released to the public like everyone else.
Public perception is influenced by the first reviews published on a new product. If you give a few known friendly writers early access, there will be a few days of nothing but positive reporting. Mainstream media will then pick this up as "overwhelmingly positive" response to the new thing.
Of course Apple has the right to behave like this. Nevertheless, it's good for consumers to know that the early reviews are carefully shaped, so if you want a balanced picture, you need to wait until after the public release.
Apple's target market doesn't give a shit about anybody's reviews of their new products. Their target market will buy whatever new products they produce simply because of the Apple logo on it.
This effect is grossly exaggerated. I'm a self-described Apple "fanboi" but I make sure to read every product review and make an intelligent decision. I'm still on iPad 3 ("the new iPad") and iPhone 4S for this reason.
It is a problem - just more global. With PR moving into more and more orwellian grounds there should indeed be widespread public education on their practices and how to avoid/protect from them.
And with the crackdown on fake/paid/influenced reviews, shills and other similar stuff seems the society is waking up.
While I strongly condemn limiting the freedom of speech I do think that there should be detailed disclosures on what kind of stuff the person doing the review is getting. And yes early access should be on that list.
Why do you need to visit them or get free equipment from them to write articles anyway? Wait for it to be released to the public like everyone else.