So your theory is what, malice?

Apple makes AirPods the cheapest hearing aids by a long shot, except for some customers that they hate?

The problem is simple: hearing aids are regulated products, and countries tend to insist on individually certifying them. Getting the right to market AirPods as hearing aids in the US wasn't cheap, I'm sure.

There needs to be international harmonization of these regulations. It isn't just hurting Apple and Apple's customers, it hurts everyone.

Perhaps Apple has decided that it's too expensive to pass those regulations in certain markets, but my bet is that it just takes longer in the EU and India. I guess we'll see.