You are completely ignoring the reality that Apple products are considered better than peer products even if they are objectively equal. The public doesn't care if Apple wasn't the first company to put a web browser on a phone. The public knows that they like their iPod, and the marketing for the iPhone made it compelling.

> the marketing for the iPhone made it compelling.

That's part of my point. There was a tremendous amount of hype for something that was incredibly limited and objectively bad. However eventually it became very good and took over the world.