Well it's not the importance, let me try and explain.
My Fiance used a Windows Phone (Lumia 810 - then eventually an 8X) until last week. While she was at the mall she asked the Tmobile rep if she can remove JUMP because frankly Tmobile doesn't look like they're getting any Flagship Windows Phone anytime soon. He went on to explain that with JUMP she can try other operating systems at basically no risk. She shrugged it off and said she really liked Windows Phones and yadayada.
Last week while our sister was upgrading (8X to a GS4) she decided to take the leap. At first she was worried as we invested ALOT of money into the market within Windows, but after 45 minutes with the phone she said she would do it again. The Phone works (aside from Minor Hiccups) AND has extra features to boot. She's of course using all the gimmicks (which aren't really gimmicks - not ground breaking, but useful) and loves the overall experience. She misses the clean look, live tiles, Cortana and a few other built in features, but the quality of everything is well done!
She's replaced her default SMS App to WhatsApp (Something you couldn't do on out phone) and Music to Xbox Music. She's enjoying a WORKING DirecTV App (we emailed them about our old WP app 7-8 times), the Snap Chat video feature to talk to her work friends, our Bank app (she just deposited a check via pictures - honestly wish we had that, hell wish our bank HAD an app on windows phone), and a lot more. She always is a big Candy Crush fiend on her Kindle Fire, now she can play anywhere so she loves that.
I find myself using the MOGA Controller to play more games on her phone, INCLUDING Minecraft Pocket Edition (which we wont get!) and I'm also using the Watch_Dogs companion app (we also lack). She also has our local news station (they don't have a WP app) & we can check our Employee Database Pages & work schedule with an App via our Hospital - which isn't going to be available as told by my administration. I can also check MY OWN statistics online for song plays, downloads via her phone, which again lacks an app for my Phone. It's honestly amazing. She's having such Joy BECAUSE of new apps. You really look at your phone differently when there's an app for everything.
If you're not an App person, fine but PLEASE leave us App Junkies alone. I'm thinking seriously of getting an HTC One M8 - especially after seeing her joy with the new device. Honestly, I never really took a good hard minute to think about how much more Android Users and iUsers get to enjoy a cell phone because of a few really useful apps. Oh Windows Phone Gods PLEASE HELP ME, I don't wanna make the switch, but it honestly looks greener on the otherside (especially if you're a Tmobile user). No good looking Hardware coming so really there's no hope, the switch is inevitable.