I think the problem w/MS wasn't the fact that they included things like WMP and IE, but that they used their massive position in the industry to basically dictate to computer makers what software their machines could and could not ship with. Thereby leveraging an unfair advantage for their products by forcing companies to only ship w/"MS approved" software. An Apple parallel might be if Apple contacted major retailers and said anyone who stocks MP3 players that play WMA files might experience a "shortage" of iPods during the Xmas shopping season.
In regards to iPods/iTMS Apple isn't letting anyone ride on their coattails, but they also aren't using their market position to hamper other companies attempts to build competing products either.
Lethal