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Same here. Even nude photos would be embarrassing, but audio recordings could have effects far worse than some prude shame.

Especially since there is no LED to signal the microphone is active, it doesn't need to point anywhere. If it could be activated while the laptop is closed (force wake up a part of the OS for just a few minutes here and there for instance) it would be a really tough problem.

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Maybe unload/delete the kernel module? (This is how I used to silence the pcspkr beep on Linux.)

But how do we do that on the more and more locked-down computing appliances consumers gravitate towards?

One does not simply unload/delete kernel module on an iPad...

Recent versions of iOS ask for permission to use the microphone.

What if in the case of a "lawful intercept" iOS does not ask for permission?

The beauty of your comment is that just a little over half a year ago you'd be considered a complete conspiracy nut and a paranoid tinfoil hatter but today there's no one even saying anything against you.

No, an attacker can just reload it. The hardware is still there, waiting for a driver to control it.

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