Apple has succumbed to the programming culture that is pervasive everywhere now -- "release early, release often." This isn't just an Apple problem, this is everywhere. We all use less stable software.
Release early/often is a mantra which fits free software development, one where there is often a second party between the software producer and the end user. This second party can be an integrator - Debian, Redhat, etc - or an IT department.
Release early/often is categorically unsuitable for proprietary, closed software development, especially for a company like Apple which directly targets end users and has made a name for producing stuff which 'just works'.
As such I don't think Apple actually follows release early/often, they just seem to think they can get by with less testing than they actually should. They also have a tendency to concentrate efforts on superficial 'improvements' while they lack the same drive to improve basic infrastructure.
Release early/often is categorically unsuitable for proprietary, closed software development, especially for a company like Apple which directly targets end users and has made a name for producing stuff which 'just works'.
As such I don't think Apple actually follows release early/often, they just seem to think they can get by with less testing than they actually should. They also have a tendency to concentrate efforts on superficial 'improvements' while they lack the same drive to improve basic infrastructure.