Some great points in this thread, and it's mostly stayed on topic! Generally threads like this turn into Apple versus Google and fanboys arguing.
I do notice though that the android users do get more protective and always bring up iOS short-comings, happens all the time like its something new! We are all aware of the lack of customisation, but seriously, people who buy iPhones do not care about changing icons, colour of the status bar, the way the screen transitions, the icon size, font etc etc. If we wanted to do that, we'd buy an android device!
Over the last couple of years I have owned several android devices, because I love tech and like trying things. I use them for no longer than 6 months and generally cannot wait to get back to iPhone. I had a Nexus 6p which, is a stonking bit of hardware, it really is a brilliant handset. Unfortunately for me it's android that always leaves me frustrated. As someone already mentioned, there's far too much messing about with settings and "baby sitting" the OS to get the best battery and performance. No two days are the same either, one day I'd be raving about the battery and the next day, wondering why I've only had 2 hours SOT with 20% battery left! With all my iPhone's, the battery is superb, reliable and lasts ages, every day. No issues, just works and I don't have to limit and/or turn off several key features either. I also get fed up with all the customisation, I find myself constantly fiddling and it gets annoying!
We all like different things, fact is, it's rare any manufacturer releases a poor handset these days, they're all made to a high spec. Samsung make great hardware, however their software is nothing short of awful. They listened and added the sd card back and waterproofing but never listen to what people say about their terrible skin over android! Someone said Apple copies Samsung, that was hilarious because it appears the other way round. Samsung have been desperate over the last couple years to make an "iPhone" the last couple phones could look much more like an iPhone if they tried! Even some of the latest touch wiz looks remarkably like iOS! They all copy one and other, it happens all the time in the tech world and really is no big deal. We have an abundance of amazing tech around us, there's enough for all of us to enjoy.
I'm no fanboy or tied to a manufacturer, if Samsung made vanilla android device, id probably buy one. But I reckon eventually i'll just go back to iOS as I always do! iOS feels like home, always works, works well with all my other iOS devices and Bluetooth devices.
I personally cannot stand googles services, tried them and apart from maps and keep, I don't like them. Apple don't need to spend billions to be like Google, Google, Samsung, HTC etc have been spending millions to be as successful as Apple. There may be millions more android handsets out there but none of them make anywhere near as much money as Apple, and not one android handset manufacturer sells anywhere near the amount iPhones do.
Oh, and I wrote all of this on a virtual keyboard, no mistakes..... Go figure