I challenged myself to write this without touching Apple but I agree entirely.
Apple gives a damn about the user experience from the very moment you walk into an Apple Store, and it continues through opening the box and first-run of your hardware, all the way to your day-to-day usage.
They do and always have. But the problem with them giving a damn is that they have a certain type of user in mind. And to give a good user experience to that user, they need the control.
If you happen to be the type of user who wants maximum control in your hands, and not in Apple's, then Apple's giving a damn has a negative impact on you.
It's why I stopped using Apple after growing up using their stuff and switched to running linux on PC hardware. I wanted my control back from Apple.
And since Linux is open source, I get the benefit of having control and having a product (software at least) made by people who give a damn!
Apple gives a damn about the user experience from the very moment you walk into an Apple Store, and it continues through opening the box and first-run of your hardware, all the way to your day-to-day usage.