I think it's more that people ought to be realistic about just how beneficial this new 5g standard will be.
For one, there's a chance that 5g phones may see a significant price hike.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/5/...iew-qualcomm-snapdragon-855-technology-summit
Second, mass adoption is still likely some time off.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/5/18126951/iphone-5g-apple-development-roadmap-network
Third, I suspect Qualcomm is pushing it on android phones so aggressively partly to due to their current lawsuit with Apple. They want the public to perceive that Apple is possibly missing out on something huge by going with Intel over Qualcomm, and hope that this might pressure Apple into coming to a speedier (and more favourable) resolution.
They don't know Apple very well. In the short run, users are not going to switch from iPhones just because it lacks 5g (especially if the infrastructure in their area won't support it). Apple is waging war on Qualcomm's entire business model, both sides know what is at stake, and Qualcomm is painfully aware of just how much they stand to lose from a protracted battle.
The importance of being early in offering 5g have been way overblown, not least by Qualcomm, as part of a PR offensive against Apple.