Who cares if the user is a programmer. If the phone is more open there will be more programmers hence more and better applications. Let me see if there is an example of this. . .(thinking). . .oh Apple vs PC. I like not taking pictures with a crappy camera. Oh yeah my phone gets reception unlike the iphone. I think the "i" stands for interruption of service. As far as 4G goes, I believe that Sprint is less than a year away from getting national 4G coverage and is about 20% there. I am willing to bet Sprint finishes the 4G network before AT&T starts.
Lets go for the Battery life. I get a half a day because I have apps that update data every second. I don't charge my phone at night I charge it in the middle of the day for 2 hours and it make the phone last the hole day. My friend doesn't use the phone constantly and it last 3 days. Besides that, the new update will make the battery last longer.
What is the biggest difference. Google and there partner phone makers will listen to their customers and send update. Apple will either a) sell you a new phone in a year when the next generation comes out or b) tell you to buy one of their cases or simple adjust the way you hold your phone.
In conclusion Apple will not be around for much longer. Bill Gates had to invest money in Apple to prop them up so that there would be any reason to use anti-trust suits to break Microsoft up--really Google it.