Balderdash, at least in the case of Apple. As mentioned, and I'll spare everyone the long list, every single iOS launch has been peppered with some controversy or another and it has been written about to literal exhaustion by the "tech media" then several weeks after that, the mainstream media (NYTimes, etc.) finally picks up on it and breathlessly starts writing about it all over again. Additionally, there are hundreds of angry threads and likely thousands of posts on support.apple.com. Result? Not much.

If you are going to make that assertion, please provide some proof points that demonstrate how any of the long list of gaffs Apple has made over the last several years (and there are many) has thrown even a small speed in what has essentially been an unimpeded path to becoming the most valuable company in the world.

If you really believe there haven't been countless people actively and "publicly" criticizing Apple for the last several years, you really haven't been paying attention.

As the old saying goes, "Money talks and BS walks" Apple speaks the language of profit; if people start voting with their wallets, you can bet it will get their attention.

Regards