Unfortunately, most people who buy a smartphone today don't really care about actually doing something useful on it. Today, it is games and visuals that weigh more in the decision process, not productivity, and more often than not a solid hardware spec is considered innovation.
When it comes to software, it's the same. Example: change hardware keys to soft ones and then brag about a buttonless design. Or spend 6 months designing a different toggle switch and finally use white font on black background.
I'm not against any company doing what it does and designing what it designs in order to improve its product, but if one had to stand out for the novelties it introduced, it has to be Nokia.
Don't know how much of that spirit is still left today. However, one thing is for sure: the NITs were far too advanced for their time, and one can only be proud of joining the exclusivist and select club of Maemo owners (and users alike).