So my advice, don't focus on geeks or nerds.
The freaks purchase the new devices as soon as they arrive. The average acquire a new device every 2 years with a new contract. You can't attract them with a new device every 6 month only with bugfixing. And I'm sure, then the userbase will grow strong. At the beginning mostly linux freaks... but this are the developers of tomorrow. With a pleased community the positiv sentiment will spread itself all over the internet (blogs, chats, icq, forum, wikis and at least the old print media) and Nokia could get a self marketing device for the mass market. (look again at Apple) It's very Important: Implementing of missing features and Bug fixing has to be done. NOKIA needs customers which speaks after 2 years about it as "great device, the best I ever had". But when they say instead: "same software problems since the beginning, not well done" they wouldn't buy the next device. If Nokia gets rid of all unfinished feeling with the software during the device lifetime the users have at the end of this time a positive feeling. They majority has the problems in the beginning forgotten and go to buy the next, new Device. Otherwise I would say rather not. It's very easy: Happy Customer are loyal Customer!