I was an early BeOS convert, but it couldn't even print (pretty important for a potential Mac audience). The point Gassee is making obliquely is that if BeOS had been acquired by Apple, Apple's management would have stayed in charge. by acquiring NeXT, which was also a better OS than BeOS all things considered, Apple got Steve Jobs who fired the board and shortly afterwards got rid of Amelio.

During the BeOS negotiations rumor had it that the sticking points were - aside from money -largely cultural and managerial. None of the former Apple people at BeOS wanted anything to do with Apple management and they were negotiating for things like not having to be in Apple's org chart. This was NOT a recipe for success.