They have always been this way in my memory. They love to do business with you, but only if you love to do it on their terms. Otherwise, fuck off.
Basically how they slowly got all the music on iTunes. Anyone who didn't like their terms could take a hike. Most of the hikers came back around eventually.
Yeah it is an interesting story. Not sure what the attraction is but many like their products and ecosystem.
I like Macs actually, but for options/freedom you have to go with Unix derivatives.
my mp3 player had 2x the space of an iPod for half the price, it was built like a tank and lasted forever. Apple cornered them out of the market with its insane advertising campaign so no one knew anything else existed. Inferior product tho
Jobs was a marketing and manipulation genius. Have to give him that. His customers loved everything he did. His victims hate him with the intensity of a burning sun.