>That's debatable. I'd argue the opposite.
Go for it :)
>solution: get Google to supply the updates by buying from the Nexus range and ensuring you're running the Google ROM
I don't think it's fair to expect the average joe on the street to be armed with that knowledge. It's something they don't even have to think about with iOS.
>Underpowered - which is rubbish.
I disagree. Samsung et al. have managed to flood the mobile phone market with cheap and cheerful phones like the galaxy mini which purport to be smart phones except that the hardware is so overwhelmed by the software, they don't even do the basics right like SMS or telephony that a €50 Nokia feature phone can do. It damages the reputation of the phone manufacturer, Google and lumps the customer with a crappy phone that struggles to do something a phone half the price can do in its sleep.