Volunteer devs, sometimes without source code, can release custom kernels and ROMs more stable and daily-use ready than stock stuff often in a few days of their spare time. It's ridiculous that companies and partnerships as big as Berizon and Samsung or Motorola (actually moto is a little better at supporting their stuff, at least once it's out) can't come anywhere near the software fit and finish of some volunteer devs.
I see where you're coming from with Apple, but it's ridiculous that others can't do better. If the iPhone was slightly better at a few things and just a tad more open to customization, I'd get one of those to spite the shens of manufacturers doing subpar and untimely work. Their hardware has so much potential, yet they can't get the software side of it together.
Need even more evidence to my reasoning? Well, the devs do even better when they do have the source code. A couple weeks after we got it, the devs have now dropped the Community ROM.
That literally makes your Fascinate into a "HOLY CRAP BATMAN! THIS PHONE IS AWESOME!!!" device. If 7 or 8 devs can release that without getting much in the way of pay or donations for their time, surely samsung could do better with their multi-billion-dollar and currently quite successful smartphone sector.
I think they are doing just that with the SGS2, actually. I believe they've learned from the Galaxy S and all its ridiculous and unnecessary variants, and the multitude of software complaints. I bet we see a way more polished experience with that phone. I hope, anyways.
The bar is higher these days, as it should be.