The distinction is immaterial. During the gap in time, the world will have changed, and two (maybe 3 or more) products will have moved into spaces that, each in their own way, at least partially compete with the NITs.

Instead of being 'ahead' of the game, from building on the momentum of the 770/N800/N810, they will have let those other products spend time building their own momentum while the NITs aren't really doing anything special at all.

Certainly each product needs to be carefully developed. No question about it. But that doesn't mean it's ok that what's next isn't happening for another year. Where's the product that comes in between them, that steals the thunder of the emerging Android, Pandora, and MID platforms?

Strategically, not having something coming out within the next 3 months, before Maemo5's hardware, will be a blunder, IMO.

I'm not saying "rush Maemo 5 out sooner than it's ready". I'm saying that they needed to be ready to ship something in between the N810WME and Maemo5. Something that would distract people from Android and the MIDs.