GarageBand for the iPad has some features as-yet unmatched on the Mac, so it's helped me create songs. (In fact, that was why I bought it). You can also use it to read documentation while programming on your main mac; you can even use it as a second monitor just to have more screen real estate on your mac. There are decent apps for writing and editing photos and painting and many other creative projects. I think the idea that it's "for consumption" is just lazy/silly thinking. If you want to create on it, buy apps used to create stuff, or write your own apps.