[shmerl]

> The average user wouldn't care much about proprietary ports.

I think the opposite. More than once I've heard people asking me for a charger or phone cable. When those people happen to be not with Apple devices everything works just fine (microUSB, you know). When they happen to be with Apple devices they can't use them and need to look further.

They do care, since in such scenarios it's clear for them that Apple cripples usability of their devices for no reason by preventing basic ports interoperability. I often point it out for them in a sense "so stop using Apple". They say "yeah, I know it's stupid, but what can you do".

[bri3d]

I've had the exact opposite experience: when I need a microUSB cable or can't plug into a friend's proprietary car stereo, I'm told "just get an iPhone!"

With iPhone marketshare still above 40% in the US (and holding steady), I think it just depends on which phone-demographic bubble you're in.

Outside of the US, I'm sure things are quite different. Aren't iPhones in the EU required to come with a MicroUSB adapter now, though?

[shmerl]

I'm actually in US, but in my experience Apple devices are a minority. I agree it can depend on population and area you are in. I wouldn't expect it to hold steady. Apple aren't interested much in innovating in the OS itself. Neither is Google for that matter - Android is pretty stale too. It means that next coming innovative contender can disrupt the market.

Not sure whether EU dictates such thing as common ports, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do.