NvyUs has hit the nail on the head so to speak.

Maemo was step 4 in a 5 step plan, or 5 in a six step plan, i can never remember which...
But in thory it was building up to harmatten and now MeeGo... Since the structure of nokia has changed, no-one knows how this may affect the path. But it doesnt change the fact Maemo was a specialist project and more likely a learning curve.