I think this is a pretty useful thread.
I'm beginning see more clearly why a lot of disappointed n900 users post on these forums.

As mentioned, a great many are carrying with them the experiences of past cell/smart phone usage. Of course, the best of these devices are very complete and polished for the majority of end-users. These devices are, in some cases, easier to design, while being harder for the user to screw-up.

I think this has been the status quo from the beginnings of cellular technology. Sure there have been enterprising hackers and tweakers who have worked around the fail-safe's and enjoyed a more flexible product, but these folks are not the majority.

Speaking for myself, a person who makes a living from tools and technology, I shunned all the "swiss army phones" just as I've shunned do-it-all tools. (OK I have a leatherman! ) When I felt the need to have a cell-phone, that was all I wanted......a cell phone! I didn't want a bunch of inferior peripheral crap of dubious value. It only needed clear communication, good battery life and a fairly big contacts list. This I found, more or less, altough I can still find fault in just about anything.... when I want to!

The thing that irritates and bothers me more than ANYTHING is the device/vehicle/tool etc that is sealed from any corrective, customizing or repair approach that may be required or desired. (I can change a battery!!!) This really irks me!

Now when I saw the first pocket pc-phone I've ever bought.....the n900, I saw a powerful flexible device with a host of features to allow as unfettered communication as any device I've seen before! Like others have already compared it to, I saw a fresh, tiny PC with superb communication abilities thrown in!

Polish!!!
Man I planned to configure this little Hot-Rod Exactly the way I wanted! On my terms....

Do I like things with polish??? Of Course!

Will the n900 ever be polished??? Phhhhhtt NO!

Do I care???? With a community like this and a flexible, tweakable device like the n900? ....Naw!

I like the n900 better and better every time I polish it.