a good, thought through phone does not need 3rd party apps.
I don't agree with that at all, but I have yet to see any official word that 3rd party apps won't be made. Even if Apple has decided to keep the platform closed for the time being, they always have the option of opening it up in the future.
Being able to connect to VPNs and Exchange servers, and being able to read Office documents are going to be essential for this phone, one way or the other. Whether Apple writes these items themselves, partners with Microsoft or someone else to write them, or opens up the development to any company who wants to have at it?one of those three things is going to happen eventually.