I agree pretty strongly with most of what you wrote, with a bit of exception to this. I too have been quite concerned with Apple fulfilling the 'Apple Tax' insults from the past, as well as the 'fashion' insults. But, I think in reality, there still is an edge to what Apple offers, it just isn't nearly as big as it once was.
It's never fun to have to come up with more money to buy something, unless you're quite wealthy, I suppose. But, in the past, I bought their stuff quite happy with my expenditure and what I got in the end. I've been much less so in the last couple decades... more begrudgingly spending.
That's something Apple probably can't yet see on the 'bottom line' because, I'm still spending. I assume many still are, and I've met so many who've moved to Apple due to Apple's reputation from the past. So, I wouldn't expect to, yet, see too much impact on that 'bottom line.'
But, without a turnaround in their behavior, we will see that 'bottom line' impact at some point, if not soon. I'm hoping we're seeing some of that behavior change. But, what I find funny is that everyone goes to the current numbers to refute the 'they are doomed' stuff. Not even the most pessimistic of us think that should show up today.
While I'm not in the 'they are doomed' crowd, I do think there will be a negative impact coming (from the last decade or two), and would be concerned long-term, if I hadn't seen some change. I'm hoping a few recent things are indications of that change, and that long-term, they will be OK. But, they have to get back a bit more to Jobs' way of thinking, and I'm not sure if that is possible under current management.
I suppose the likely outcome, is that it will be mixed. They won't completely screw up, but they also won't be what they once were. That is unfortunate, doable for now.
