I believe he is using the far more superior metric, called “subjective perception”.

Choice as a customer - choice of upgrading the RAM, choice of getting to keep the data in case the motherboard fails, choice of picking a non genius bar repair shop, choice of looking at product schematics, choice of being able to buy legitimate spare parts for Apple products

> What metric are you using to point to Apple's decline since Tim Cook came into the company? Product lines, revenue, customers, market cap, employees, daily client interactions, brand value, customer satisfaction?

Not everything can be measured, or measured practicably. Qualitative judgments are valuable.

Looking at things too much through the lens of metrics can make you blind to many things.

Except the metrics are overwhelmingly in Cook's favor on this one. Monumentally in his favor.