@darule
An operating system should be as basic as possible, it's there to serve the programs, not the other way around. Commodore and Apple knew that, back then
I'm wondering if you can really say that about any company "back then", since there wasn't much room to wiggle as far as bells and whistles were concerned. These days, computers have to wow you with screwy flashing lights to click because of the commodity nature of what computers have become. And, the technology is right there to feed the beast. They want you to buy theirs. Even if theirs sucks, if it looks cool, people will buy it over the lame looking one with the logical and efficient design philosophy.
Did you know there is a cereal called "Barbie as the Island Princess"? Yes, really. I saw it at the store a few days ago. I don't know what kind of cereal it is, but boy that pink box is gonna sell millions because it's Barbie. Kids ain't picking a cereal, they're picking Barbie. Just let's see if the parents will actually demand that their little girls eat the cereal even if it tastes gross. ;-)