You can extend that template ("... and make it not suck") back to the original Macintosh, arguably even to the Apple I/II. In the case of the Watch they do seem to be pushing the pace, jumping in before the hardware allows them to combine obvious usefulness and that perception of a no-compromises experience. (To an extent that happened with the Macintosh, and they paid the price for it.) Part of the issue for Apple is that they're running out of gadgets to apply the template to: it seems the only things left are TV and radio, VR/AR and maybe one or two other non-watch wearable devices. Then all that's left are things like DSLR cameras or automobiles: things that tend to have nasty UIs but haven't reached the point where hardware specs are largely secondary to UI.