"but then they hadn't to consider how a new HCI impacts the brand, since they had no old mobile HCI that mattered."

And that's the BS that Apple ignores and that it makes them go forward.

They should consider how shipping crappy products impacts their brand (are you listening Motorola)

There is a reason I don't even look at the prices for Motorola products anymore.

"Funnily, Android/Google was in a similar position as Apple, ... and they seemed to prefer the old style for now."

That's what happens when you only have engineers making decisions.