Looking for a Neutral Place with Apple?

I am not sure I can stress this point enough, so let me start with a simple question: which is more important to you, the beauty and cohesive design of the iPhone (News - Alert) or its ability to deliver applications?  Better yet, fill out the survey.

I ask this because Apple (News - Alert) wants to draw you a map.  In theory, I am cool with this.  If Apple wants to stop using Google (News - Alert) Maps as an integrated solution on its phones, that is its choice. However, in doing this will the company give you a choice?  And how will it be implemented?  

The last time Google and Apple had a spat about applications, Congress and the press looked for a boogey man at AT&T (News - Alert).  The good news is now they are no longer looking for the evil in the death star.

On the other hand, Net Neutrality continues to be associated only with the last mile and not the last device.  I am not sure that Net Neutrality is being thoroughly thought out?

Here is what I see:  

• I see in the WISP community a lot of feedback that shows that over the top video is causing their service to degrade
• I see friends that have content concerned about the way they can be blocked by the carriers
• I see the carriers wanting (desperately) to find a pricing model that makes speeds and feeds segmented
• And I see devices that are optimized in specific ways that could favor implementations that were associated with that optimization
• I have seen bundles of services on my phone that I would not want and cannot be removed
• I have watched content and cable operators block delivery of local events to renegotiate contracts

So here is the question:  

Is there really only one boogey man in the room, or are the chances for Net Neutrality to be thwarted legion?

I have seen compressed video that looked as good as my DVD and I have seen my TV delivery operator deliver a visual disaster.

I would love to see a view that looks at all players and determines the concerns of enabling competition.  

Personally, I am at the point where I watch three stations on TV and rarely anything else. I am not foolish enough to ask for the personal triple play of only those stations, but I am always repulsed by the bundles I have to suffer to get what I want.  

Maybe Apple can guide us to a better experience; then again, I think that was the way the snake sold the idea to Eve.