The problem is with the system that allows patenting obvious solutions such as rounded corners or click-to-call and not with Apple itself. Heck, even my Game Gear from 20 years ago had rounded corners. Luckily for Apple, Sega didn't think about that patent then. Apple is just the symptom, patent laws need to be completely overhauled (or at least the system for examining existing patents and new patent requests).
Apple never patented rounded corners or click to call. It's as simple as that. What was patented is a very specific design that would take Samsung all of 10 mins to work around (e.g. like they did with the Galaxy 10.1n).
And how about the two elephants in the room: Microsoft and Nokia who have built something unique, innovative and just don't seem to get nearly enough respect or credit for their efforts.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susankalla/2012/08/25/apple-deli...
I haven't seen the actual patent in question, but that doesn't sound like a very specific design to me.
Coke has a design patent on the particular shape of their bottle which surely is a product that is even harder to innovate with. But yet do we see competitors to Coke appearing all the time. Of course. There is rarely one way to do something.
I think people in time are going to realise this will all end up being a good thing for the industry.
Everyone does it, (google bought motorola for their patents). If you don't like it talk to the WTO, congress, parliament, UN and lobby to get it changed.
Every company, I am sure, would rather spend their time and efforts creating great things, no one more than Apple spends their time creating things of beauty. CEOs don't get in to CEO-ing so they can pay hoards of patent lawyers to sit in court all day.