Or they could've opened up their hardware so enthusiasts could make other stuff work. If Windows doesn't work for them, someone will get Android running, or maybe something like Sailfish.

I'm going to buy a Google Pixel, not because of the software features, but because I can easily flash something else onto it. I'm definitely part of a niche, but people have been modding consoles and whatnot in the mainstream for decades, so I think the community could help a company survive bad software if they open up the hardware enough.