Due to the above, there is an inconsistent user experience. Different locations for buttons, different icons. Different update mechanisms. Messy, very messy 
, even more so for non computer literate users.
Very true but which of us normal people has more than one device ? One phone will last me two years, when I buy a new one I'll get used to that.
Don't quite get the point about updates, hardwear updates, see above, software updates, same as my WIN stuff on permanently connected WiMax, updates are automatic if you set the phone that way. Wake up in morning, turn phone on, "oh, it's been updated, ho hum", etc.
But I must confess: hell would have to freeze over before I bought anything from Apple, and there's the truth ! P'raps that sort of sentiment only applies to us more knowledgable users who like to mess about with what we buy rather than accepting what we are given, sorry sold. (Expensively !)