Not to be the one to nitpick, but reaching the mainstream and being niche are exactly what the Jolla doesn't do (at this time) and is, respectively.

Is there a significant number of people here that would rather see Jolla make another Samsung Soapbox than chart out their own blue ocean (you know, to "be unlike")? Sure. I can't blame them; it would be nice to be one of the people that helped a grassroots project that's like the big boys' go to the moon alongside the big boys. However, that's a tad dangerous; you don't see the Ouya trying to compete with Nintendo or Sony consoles (for one reason or another).

Do they have the potential to possibly reach the mainstream? Sure. Do they have a sure shot at it? With their (current) culture, absolutely not. People are interested in marked-up, Foxconn-made phones that have the power to replace their computer, yet they still choose to use their computer. People like that aren't interested in "being unlike." Rather, it's much the opposite. They don't care that their OS is open-source and backed by a company who won't sell their info to an iron-fisted cyber-security government agency. They don't care about TOH. Seeing as though people are more inclined to go with what's familiar, I can't see that ever changing.

The Jolla and Open Pandora are apples and oranges, and putting them in the same sentence to contrast them is grossly unfair to both devices. The Jolla is a really niche device in the world of smartphones. The Open Pandora is a niche device in of itself; I've never heard of something before it that developed a niche within a niche, then expand on that niche.

Unless Jolla makes an Apple Candybar for their next device, starts pulling a Canonical on its (rather small) userbase, and starts getting into a million partnerships to put their device (with mainstream appeal) into as many shops as possible, Jolla will always be a humble, independant company with a cool device and a supportive community. All things considered, that's, IMNSHO, for the better.