"One looks at the spread between Apple's COGS and Apple's list prices and wonders how it can be reasonable that Apple captures that whole spread."
Because COGS is what Apple pays Foxconn (and other manufacturers) to produce those items. Foxconn and the others make their profit (or loss) from the contracted amount paid, which is roughly, though not always, COGS.
It is far more likely Apple would contract factories in Vietnam and Indonesia than in Burma or North Korea to product items, as forced labour is a poor source of quality manufactured goods.
Because COGS is what Apple pays Foxconn (and other manufacturers) to produce those items. Foxconn and the others make their profit (or loss) from the contracted amount paid, which is roughly, though not always, COGS.
It is far more likely Apple would contract factories in Vietnam and Indonesia than in Burma or North Korea to product items, as forced labour is a poor source of quality manufactured goods.