I don't think it is particularly standard. Otherwise, Apple would be lost among the myriad of companies out there creating innovative products 😀
I do think that Apple has got many things right as they keep delivering and everyone tends to follow. The fact that PCs in general a little nicer to the eye, and the various features in the gadget marketplace... many of these things are copies/evolutions from Apple's products.
Although I can imagine Steve walking in, liking something, and then everyone dropping everything to get that thing made no matter anyone else's opionion... 😀 I think possibly the MacBook Air and the new folder icons in Leopard fall into this category.
Umm...do you realize how fanboy-ish you sound?