Perhaps if it’s entirely user-configurable; i.e. a personally enabled nag, it might be seen as reasonable. If that’s the case, the article should have made it clear early on.
Post 9 is corrected
It will be certainly user-configurable
Yeah, but who would have read that article?
Such minor controls as who turns it on or off, and when, would not be included in a patent application. The point of the patent is what it does and what purpose it fulfills and how it does it. This article based on Rush Limbaugh's comments and the patent application is not on how Apple will implement the actual invention if and when they do. Apple will make it user friendly. It's what they do. They will not make it an irritation to all users. They know better than that.
From the article:
"In the filing, Apple shows a new option for creating reminders entitled "Required User Input." Apple's concept also adds the ability to include tags, such as "Health" or "Projects," to reminders.
That would be outside the scope of the patent. I assume Apple wouldn't implement this as mandatory on every device it sells, in small part because it requires external hardware, but mostly because they don't have a history of going out of their way to alienate customers.