Not to be pedantic or anything, but Digidesign isn't primarily in the business of making effects pedals or rack mount units. They make very high end interfaces for Protools, which is their industry leading recording software, as well as other studio mixing solutions and control surfaces. Perhaps you were in the business before the advent of Protools : )
It really doesn't matter if the business model is different in cell phones. Apple is at the top of the food chain. I really don't buy that there are hundreds of cell phone makers. Obviously there aren't hundreds that matter for this argument. Yes, Apple and Google are rich. Sorry. The fact is that Blackberry sat down at the big table. They said they want to compete heads-up with Apple and Google and Samsung. Throwing their customers under the bus in terms of warranty protection probably wasn't the best way to show people that they're making a product that they're willing to stand behind.
And yes, when I buy a brand spanking new unit, and it turns out to be hardware defective on day 20 (strike one), and then I get a refurb as a replacement (strike two) I am being thrown under the bus. Period.