In my opinion, RIM's problem is that they feel like they defined what it was to be a smartphone. Now that they are no longer king of the hill, they are trying to replicate the current definition of a smart phone. Like the author alluded to, what they should be doing is re-defining a new space for themselves. RIM's never going to make the best iPhone. They need to go back to making the best Blackberry, whatever that is.
I agree with this, and think RIM sort of 'won' the smartphone throne without understanding good enough why.
One can see that they don't understand themselves by what appears to me as an attempt to out-Apple Apple, or as you say, trying to make the best iPhone -- a very silly proposition if one understands how deeply Apple's way of operating is embedded in its culture. The same thing, crucially, is going on with marketing. At least it would seem the PlayBook is aimed at business -- one right, if probably inevitable, choice for them.
They need to figure out what made them able to make the BlackBerry a success and then use the same craft to develop their game further. You can't grow wings overnight if you're a fish. My BB-toting friend is always speaking of the BB's intuitiveness and speed for what he does. Is touchscreen really a good choice for that? It seems silly that RIM would squander their assets for something new without first being totally sure that their new 'thing' is better.
In fact, in that matter I think Nokia might be doing slightly better with their transition Symbian-Symbian touch-Meego (anyone with an educated opinion on that one?).
