I did not say they wouldn't be successful or Tim Cook was not satisfactory. It's simply an analogy in regards to buzz or "hype". You cannot for a fact say that Steve Jobs death did not have an effect on the iPad 2 release.
Compare it to say Michael Jackson. Do you think "This is It" would have been nearly as successful or highly rated if he did not die during that time?
Then what is driving the 3rd generation iPad release? Memories of Steve? Or is it an amazing product, like the iPad 2 was?
Everyone knows about Apple and iPods and iPhones and iPads. They are all over the news. Steve's death had nothing to do with increasing peoples awareness of Apple. Your Michael Jackson analogy makes no sense. Try a car analogy next time.