You make alot of valid arguements, and seem to be doing the necessary research to make an informed decision. I and a couple other bloggers are planning to write about this very subject this morning. You've ignored one major differentiator in comparing the two software platforms, and I'll give you a little bit of insight before I write my article, which I'll PM a link to when I'm finished.

I understand what you mean, but you are mistaking the intimate knowledge these guys here have of both platforms. Most of the guys here make software for both OSes, along with many others, so they are more aware of the architectural advantages of Maemo over the other mobile OSes out there. As I've discovered, your question is what they'd consider a "silly" question, and once you learn the facts you'll see why.

The intellectual level of the majority of the members here are not so simplistic as to label them fanboys. They mostly develop software for a living, and know more than regular end users like you and I. Their education level has blessed them with the ability to judge the way the OS is designed and choose based on that, without even paying attention to the hardware. They don't always do a good job explaining why Maemo is better, but that's why they're programmers and I'm a writer. They're not always good communicators, but they're knowledge is top notch, if you know how to get it out of them. I'll give you the skinny on this whole issue, and you can decide for yourself what is best for you.

Google isn't very friendly to the free open source software movement, and more similar to the early days of Microsoft, which is the antithesis of Linux and FOSS. FOSS is the foundation of Maemo, and a deep part of the philosophy of most of the developers here. Nokia is the only mobile company promoting only open source OSes, and their recent transparency has made mobile development easier, unlike the rest of the competition. You'd have to understand the benefits of FOSS first, so I suggest learning the effect companies like Google and Microsoft have had on FOSS, and get a closer understanding of this forum's sentiment towards Google and similar companies.

Google touts its Linux underpinnings and openness, but in actuality, Android has little similarity to Linux or FOSS. Since Maemo is a touch friendly Linux distro, and not just "based on Linux", it has all of the advantages of Linux, which has so many advantages, more and more major companies are using it for their enterprise networks. Nokia allows developers to use open and available tools to make its applications, whereas Android doesn't as much. It used FOSS to make Android, but when it comes to software development, most of that heritage is thrown out of the window. Android apps are merely high quality Java apps run in a virtual machine on top of Linux, so it will never run .debs like Maemo can, whereas Maemo apps are more versatile apps designed with various industry standard tools, and many devs don't even use the SDK very much, since its mainly Linux, which has been around for decades.

The easiest way to see the advantage of Maemo vs. Android is comparing both to desktop OSes. I'll use Linux as the base desktop OS, since its open source, more than relevant to this comparison, and much more powerful than a smartphone or mobile OS.Now with Linux, you know its closest contemporary is Windows Mobile and Mac OSX. Ask anyone that makes software how easy it is to make programs for Linux vs. mobile OSes Android, WinMo, iPhone, Blackberry, or Symbian. I'm not just talking ease of making apps, but the ability and quality of those apps. The tools available for Linux allow for anything from simple Twitter clients and media players to heads up displays on fighter jets and firmware for robotics and manufacturing factories.

Now you'd usually never compare any of the aforementioned mobile OSes to any of the desktop OSes. But let's compare Maemo this time. First, Maemo IS Linux. The only difference is it includes a few pieces of proprietary software, but the basic architecture of Maemo is no different than Linux Mint or Ubuntu. The biggest difference is it has a custom user interface optimized for a touchscreen and small, relatively low resolution (in desktop terms) display. It is just as capable of running many of the apps designed for the desktop, only sometimes you'll need a stylus, since the desktop app UIs aren't always optimal when used on a small form factor device. So Maemo is desktop software, and we all know desktop class software is always more powerful than any of the stuff on most mobiles.

Now you may say,"There's no way Maemo is the same as Linux." Well, think again, because its EXACTLY the same, just a custom distro made for mobiles, the first of its kind. Nokia has innovated its butt off with Maemo, and once the N900 is released, it will be more evident. Take a look at Linux Mint, a favorite Linux distro of mine I've recently fallen in love with. When comparing the two, the genetics are more evident. For instance:

1. Both have multiple scrollable desktops. Android does as well, but the similarities basically end there.

2. Both feature the Advanced Packaging Tool, which is the software distribution and management system used to automate the retrieval, configuration and installation of applications and software upgrades. This is Linux's biggest advantage over Windows and other OSes. Imagine if the Apple App Store were all free, included every app that could run on it, approved or not, and pushed upgrades to all installed apps automatically. Imagine going to a site, seeing you need a particular plugin, and the APT handles finding and pushing it to you. Linux has Synaptic, and Maemo has the Application Manager, but they're really just front ends for APT.

3. Its Linux, so its desktop software. Notice the apps running on Maemo. Mozilla browser? Not on any other mobile platform. And its the same Mozilla on your desktop, just optimized for touch. Users are already loading the Add-ons from Firefox into the N900 browser to prove that point home.

4. Its open source. This means the OS is open to changes. I don't mean the simple Cyanogen mods, but platform level changes. The N900 isn't even out yet, and already, developers have managed to sync the contacts list with Facebook profile photos. This agility is the beauty of FOSS, and being Linux, its easy for devs to deal with across the world. Which developer community do you think is larger, Linux or Android?

5. Most of the apps will be free. Linux is ground zero for free open source software, so Maemo will surely lead the market in this space. And this forum is available to allow the community to share ideas and implement features at the user's request, and in far quicker time than if the OS were organized like Android. Instead of waiting for the OS designers to release fixes and upgrades, multiple fixes can be released by the community, and freely distributed via APT, for users to install and try as they wish, without waiting on Nokia to release an update. So Nokia can focus on the most pressing issues, for instance portrait mode, and the simple stuff can be handled by us right here, with full support from Nokia.

I have to take time to get back to my research and morning writing, so I'll cut it short here. I hope this information was eye opening to you. Android is a good OS, but just not in the class of Maemo/Linux. The closest competitior to the N900 is the OQO Model 2, which I'd not choose over the N900. It is Windows, lacks the broad catalog of free apps, and isn't optimized for touch. But other than the various Windows tablets, nothing comes close to Maemo. We know this, and are shocked when people don't. Don't be offended when you get the responses you do, and consider yourself now informed.

So now, when someone asks you about comparing Android to Maemo, feel free to respond with smirks and flat comments, but also know you're armed with the truth, and hopefully you can share this knowledge with them.