I know as much as anyone about Ballmer's role in Microsoft during the early years. The point I made before was that Microsoft would likely be in the same jam today if Bill Gates had remained as CEO. He and Ballmer have the same mindset, and mindset is the fundamental problem here. The big difference between the two is, Ballmer was at the helm when Microsoft really needed to execute a major strategic shift. The failure to recognize this will be Ballmer's legacy, more than it will be the legacy of Bill Gate -- though they are both culpable.
At least you're admitting that Gates wouldn't have mystically fixed this. That seems to be more than a lot of people are capable of doing these days. I don't understand the love-fest for Gates, the rose-tinted glasses.