well i guess everything has already been said about this topic, it's more a philosophical question whether the "mass market" prefers complex and customizable devices or simple, design-over-function products. (Or sometimes rather a geographical and cultural question )

return rate is at least four times higher for Linux netbooks than Windows XP netbooks

The point is: Average Joe doesn't care what's under the hood, but likes the "it just works" approach. That ultimately results in designers having to disable capabilities that could make a product become less stable.
This is a conservative approach. Yet tinkerers and developers prefer progressive devices which let them have more freedom for the cost of a less stable user experience.

That's why it's a pain to modify apple mac hardware, but said hardware is usually running a stable OS (at least it was like that for quite some time). Yet overclockers and modders using apple hardware are a scarce sight.

There ultimately will be future phones as open as modern PCs, yet running stable and being easy to use. Everyone will have one, with no one caring about the long way these products have come.

Concerning 136grams vs 181grams:
hardware keyboard, keyboard slider mechanism, exchangeable battery, exchangeable micro-sd card, way better and bigger camera, lens protection mechanism, slot for touchscreen pen, stand, higher battery capacity.
45 grams more is a steal.

Sorry for OTing the eldar thread.

/edit

I'm typing way too slow... when I started, there were no replies to that quote...