"If I was Apple I would have set the price at $250 and lived with little or no profit and counted on iTunes sales"
so you think Apple should lower it's price..
"I have no idea the final cost once you add in distribution and advertising and all the other expenses"
so you don't know what Apple's profit margin is
" It's a health profit but that's what a company in their position should make, a healthy profit."
but you know it's healthy, and you feel they.. deserve it somehow?
"Everyone else is playing catch up"
no. most reviews agree that Apple has been "playing catch up" for it's last few devices. Apple was behind Android in providing LTE and even the seven inch form factor.
"One of the reasons Microsoft got into so much trouble is they became dependent on a couple of products then started turning out crappy products and said so what?"
WTF are you talking about? The most popular desktop operating system in the world? Or did you mean the most popular office suite in the world? Or was it the most popular server os? Maybe you mean the xbox, one of the most popular game consoles? Do you really, honestly believe that these products dominate their respective markets (and have for years) because no one can escape some sort of magical trap Microsoft has designed? And exactly what trouble do you think the company that makes all of these products is in?
"Well over the last five or so years a lot of people switched to Apple."
citation needed. unless by "a lot" you mean less than 2% of the computing market, then sure. big deal.
"I'd love to see them more open but it would come at a sacrifice of stability "
what the fuck is this FUD?
"so I'm happy the way things are"
so.... actually you *don't* want them to lower prices. ?
"In the end if you want a device with zero profit margin then buy Android."
Funny... all these articles about how Samsung, Motorola and Asus are making record profits with Android devices, but this is your take on the Android scene?
"...Apple device and deal with them making a profit."
Nobody (well.. nobody that is sane) has a problem with companies that make a profit. However, Apple is one of the most profitable companies in the world. To make this very simple for you: They take your money, cover all their expenses, and then put more of your money in their own pocket than every other company that makes similar products. If they put the same amount of your money in their pocket as their competitors do, their prices would be lower. Not sure if you want that or not, you seem to be a bit wishywashy on that point.