[hraedon]

The relevant example here is that Apple supports the lowest common denominator standard: SMS. iMessage is what makes the experience "magical" on iPhones.

The total failure of any open messaging standard to capture the market seems to imply to me that control is actually pretty important to the experience of using the service!

[hamandcheese]

It merely implies that being closed is more profitable, not that it is critical to the experience.