I have been a lurker for so long, but this event pretty much trigger me to join to share another point of view to the so called "Apple fans". Really, Apple is like a baseball team where if someone gets kicked out it is good riddance to the old and whatever new direction is good.
This isn't good news. Maybe it is better for Apple because Tim doesn't need to worry about Scott anymore, and there will be less friction among the execs. However Apple is about "balance". Jony is the Ying and Scott is the Yang. Jony is hardware and Scott is software. Both may not be the same, but that's what makes it work. They are both passionate on what they do, and they both do their corresponding areas well. Are they perfect? No... and neither was Steve Jobs.
Skeuomorphism is what makes Apple well Apple. Asking for the minimalistic interface of Windows 8 just goes to take away one of Apple's distinct personalities. Is it the best way? Perhaps no, but it is definitely Apple's way.
Just imagine if Jony created the new OS X to be minimalistic. Free of any skeuomorphism ideas... can you imagine how BORING it will be? Does it make you think of Apple? It will be just another OS in the lists of OSes that are around.
It's the people that makes Apple. It should never be full of YES men. Steve was able to control Scott. Tim is no Steve, but he should have better controlled him. That's why Steve was special, he was able to massage the collective egos at Apple to get things done well.
"Heres to the crazy ones. The rebels. The troublemakers. The ones who see things differently. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."
STUPID.