I have been loosely following the Moto X phone and from what I can gather it is going to be nothing more then an outdated-out-of-the-gate (think thunderbolt), mid range spec'd device. Motorola's last stand.
Sure, very close to stock android experience. Slightly customizable. (How long will it take to get the thing from Moto anyway!?)
Bootloader unlocked? I would be surprised to see this, if not, this would be a big nail in their coffin. The lower spec'd devices? Yet another nail. The seemingly (to me) cheesy "build your own device" some will by it, some will not. I can see this as a way compete with the rumored lower cost iPhone that may come in an array of colors.
Come on, Motorola! If the mid range spec'd X phone is true, then its a play to compete with the lower cosed plastic iPhone rumored, a way to make it lower cost to attempt to make it more attractive to some buyers, in a way PG13 vs R rated movies does, then, I think you should just stop.
Seriously, moto. Just. Stop. Think. There are two other high end smart phones out there right now, running stock android, the moto x seems to point to a "me too" that, like previous track records show, (thunderbolt anyway) are late to the party.
Unless this moto x phone (as it is rumored now) is going to be around the same price as the nexus 4, then you might as well start digging.
Want to impress? Hows about unlocking your bootloaders for a start? Wait, verizon will not allow that? Awww, that too bad. I realize big red payed big bucks for the Droid moniker. So, make something else for the rest of the carriers. Verizon is not the only game in town, you know. Make us a GSM equivalent device with an unlocked bootloader and allow dev's in. Stop locking bootloaders.
Blur was not so bad. Encrypted bootloaders are far worse. Allow independent developers in to your devices instead of allowing them to become obsolete after 6 months. This goes for all you android handset makers. Dave gets shiny new phone, 3 months later its already been bumped by a newer device with better spec's then a few months later Dave learns of no new updates for his device and within 6 months Dave has a obsolete device with little independent dev support and non from the handset maker, because they abandoned that once was new device 6 months ago and basically say, "well, you should have waiting" and, "Well, this is proprietary software that you cannot circumvent, even though you own the hardware." Now dave is bitter toward the handset maker.
Its a bootloader! Shesh. Unlock it. Let someone else keep the hardware alive for the next generation of devices, and keep a wee bit less e-waste out of the landfills.
Okay, that is enough rambling / ranting for now.
Edit: was not 100% awake when I posted this, but "thunderbolt" could be replaced by "bionic" which would be a bit more apt in this case...
You are cool Fonz Daddy
Feeling a lot safer in here with you 'round.