But let's be honest for a second here: The technological foundation was already there, so it's an exaggeration to say that "the original iPhone started that". It didn't. It was beautiful, but it nevertheless stood on the shoulders of giants that had already been there long before it.
I agree with everything you say, except I feel that you underemphasize the iPhone's significance. Yes, the technology existed. Apple has rarely, if ever, created the technology...they create the experience which is arguably just as important.
Even if the car engine existed, it took the effort to create an experience around it that people wanted. It is a shallow view, in some respects, but the iPhone created (please excuse this terrible grammar) how the technology would be used.