I wonder if it is possible, as an Apple developer, to query "permissions requested" via some other channel ?

I don't know anything about the ways Apple developers interface with the app store to submit or update or index their apps ... is it through xcode ?

I wonder if there is some function in that toolchain that actually does what I am proposing ...

This is possible and relatively easy for Apple to do: for most (if not all) permissions, a declaration that you intend to ask for permission is required in the app's Info.plist manifest file.

When permission is requested and you've forgotten to declare that your app asks for it, the permission will be immediately denied without prompting the user.