They should just cave in and release an Android phone...maybe try to negotiate a deal with Google to create the next Nexus.

It won't happen imo, but if they are really in the gutter, I'd jump onto Android and continue Maemo (or switch to Tizen and co) if I were them.

WP7 while looks good, is still shite under the skin. Both Symbian and Harmattan are superior to it.