Y'all have to understand something about human psychology and decision making. We are creatures of the myth. In other words, most of our information about the world around us comes from stories, which often equates to what an authority says is the case. Try these modern myths out:
Japanese cars are superior to Amican.
Apple products have no bugs and never fail.
Obama is weak on immigration.
The truths are, of course:
JD Powers and Consumer Reports shows many American car owners experiencing higher satisfaction that Japanese. While the GM ignition key debacle makes headlines, the Toyota/whatever recalls are buried in the business pages. I do see them.
Apple products are no more reliable than any others. Yes, their (captive, in house) programs work well with the hardware, but the hardware isn't coming out of any factory with superior standards.
Obama has increased the number of border guards by several fold, and has sent several times more illegals back home than any of his predecessors. (No intention for a political discussion here, just talking mythology.)
re apps: More is not necessarily better. Try wading through millions of apps. How many music players, or Pizza Joints In Islamabad apps are needed? How many games do you need or use? Yes, there are a few I wish WP had, but nothing that is crucial to my well being or in some cases, I can just use the web browser to access the same information.
Regardless of marketing, number of apps, or anything else, the sad fact is that MS is reviled and mistrusted globally. They could make an OS and phones that were light years of the other Big Guys, and they could still fail. The irony is that Google consistently gets caught "doing evil." I have nothing to do with them anymore.
The only things that can surmount these mythologies are a huge and long term advertising and PR program. Not trying to invoke Godwin's Law, but that's how Hitler got where he did. Oh yeah, and the Koch brothers...... (Admittedly political.)