If Apple makes upgrading components easier for themselves that will likely mean users and resellers can mod them more easily as well. I wonder how the 'next year' comment fits into the CPU and GPU roadmaps.
Being able to read someone else's code is an essential skill. If enough time has elapsed it can even be a useful skill for code you wrote some time ago. It can make you a more effective developer because, for example, you will be able to read through open source code to understand what it does (since some have poor docs) as well as allow you to contribute fixes and enhancements. You can also find new techniques in code that you can add to your own 'arsenal'. Another reason is it is a great way to learn a new language: you can start reading examples and mapping patterns from languages you know into the new one. So yeah, this is an essential skill.