Hoogland: Android vs Maemo - Hands on Review

Sorry to be the one pointing it out, but you're only handwaving. You wouldn't even be right if you had more than anecdotal evidence to back you up, but you don't even have that.

If your argument was right, Linux wouldn't exist. But even though Linux has single digit market share (as far as we know), we're doing fine. There is on-going development, new projects, a thriving community. You simply can't only think of a market as a limited resource that will be split among some players. That is way too simplistic. Different people have different preferences. There is lots of room for growth in the smart phone segment.

Granted: this growth may or may not bring enough developers to Maemo/Meego for it to be sustainable. But for the time being it doesn't seem that the platform is doomed being backed by two big players with a history of community participation.