Us folks here on these forums know what the phones are capable of, but when you ask the average joe to buy your phone and it can't do X, Y, and Z, but there are other phones that can do that, then what is their argument then. As a person that is in the know like most of you on this forum, I know what to expect from Microsoft more or less. Those other guys and gals don't care about a new kernel. They care about what is this phone going to do for me now in comparison to what else is out there. right now, the competition has us beat in many categories EXCEPT cameras and Microsoft office integration.
That is specifically what early adopters and those who follow these things are for. When someone asked which phone I got recently, I explained all of the great things about Windows Phone. You say that there is only the camera and Microsoft Office, but that really isn't the case. I'll point out a few others:
--Pricing: At least on AT&T, the devices are cheaper. You can get the Lumia 920 for $100 (a flagship for half the price of a flagship), and the Lumia 820 for $50. You then have the $100 8X there, so those who don't NEED 16 GB can choose that, rather than being forced onto the $200 16GB model.
--Interface: This is an aesthetic preference, yes. However, when we're talking about this, if the person likes it and is willing to learn it, then it's not an issue. I like this UI more than the grids and pages of Android and iOS, and having the customizable lock screens and tile colors (which I seems to change every few days) is better than changing a wallpaper that's covered by your apps anyway.
--Xbox LIVE integration: Being able to use an account you already have (if you already have a Microsoft/Xbox LIVE account) is better than having to create another account you don't need otherwise (such as Apple's GameCenter; I also don't use Google but HAD to make a Google account for Android). Xbox LIVE allows for cross-platform integration (PC, Xbox, Windows Phone) to play games with friends, which is a great convenience to have for the numerous amounts of teens and young adults who are already playing on Xbox LIVE.
--Xbox Music/Nokia Music: Really, with the applications you get from Nokia, I think getting a Lumia is CLEARLY better than going HTC. One of those applications is Nokia Music, which allows for streaming. The streaming is free. The streaming is ad-free. The only constraint is that you only get 6 skips per hour. That is countered by the ability to download 4 online streaming playlists to your phone and use them offline, which prevents unnecessary data consumption.
--Games: This (like the interface) is a preferential matter. It also ties into the Xbox LIVE integration. However, in the nearly 2 years I spent on Android, I never found a game I like more than the Windows (8 and Phone)-exclusive
Wordament. It's a great game, and playing it with my sister or her fianc? when we're together is great (partially because I'm better than them, haha).
--Storage: You know what you get with an iPhone: 16 GB for $200, 32 GB for $300 (and I think 64 GB for $400). With Android, you're probably getting 16 GB with an SD slot for $200. With the Nexus 4 (which seems to be the #2 to the Galaxy S III), you get 8 GB for $300 or 16 GB for $350, both off-contract and without micro-SD. With Windows Phone, you can get the $100 Lumia 920 with 32 GB of non-expandable storage (realistically enough for most users, though that can be said about 16 GB as well). You can also get the $50 Lumia 820 or $100 Lumia 822 (after $50 rebate) with 16 GB and microSD support. Basically, you get more storage per-dollar than with Android or iOS, which is great for media lovers (I personally have used up 20+ GB for videos, photos, and music on my Lumia 920).
--Support: This is really compared to Android, not iOS. With an Android device, you pretty much hope that you'll get 1 full year of support on a 2-year contract, which is sad. With my Windows Phone, I am EXPECTING updates for the full duration of my contract. Windows Phone 7 is supported more than 2 years after its release, and they are working on the second major update now. My HTC Droid Incredible got one update in the 2 years I had it, which is borderline unacceptable. I shouldn't have to learn to root a phone just to make it decent.
--Carrier apps: With Android, you have a lot of carrier apps that you have to root the device to remove. With Windows Phone, they can be deleted like any downloaded application, which is a great thing to have. I'm not sure what you get on that front with iOS, but when my stupid Android device was pre-loaded with Twitter, Facebook, Skype, Slacker radio, and other garbage, it sucked. It was both clutter in my app drawer, and the apps also had a tendency to open themselves at random, which meant going in to force close them every day, almost.
I can go on, but SO much of a phone choice is just what you prefer. At the end of the day, if you don't like Windows Phone's tiles, you're not going to get one of these devices. I feel like Android offers the most flexibility, but it comes at the cost of needing to have somewhat in-depth knowledge of phones to root them. Without that feature, you're limited to wallpapers and little else. iOS is extremely rigid in its customization (aesthetically speaking), and don't get me started on their crap with chargers. Windows Phone allows for a decent amount of freedom (live tiles, tile sizes, tile colors, tile arrangement, and lock screen choices), without requiring a week or two of learning the ins and outs of rooting a device to get that.
Really, though, it's all a pointless argument. You get what looks good, and that's it. After getting my Lumia 920, I'd rather keep this phone for 4 years than upgrade to a brand-new Android device (I'll never buy from Apple) in 2014.