*Puts on tin-foil hat*
I think AT&T knew exactly what they were doing when the 'modified' the Android OS with the Backflip. They wanted to jump on the boat and offer an Android device to their customers. But at the same time they must stay true to their flagship, the iPhone.
When they released the Backflip (dookie) I'm sure some of their customers went out and got one just to see what all the hype is all about. Some of them probably even coming from an iPhone. When they got it and realized that it is not all it's cracked up to be (AT&T's fault) they figure that all Android devices are inferior to the iPhone, Grandmaster of Smartphones! [sic]
This now makes them less likely to jump ship and pick up a phone such as a Droid, Nexus One, or any other Android device on another carrier. And since they have the smartphone bug they may even go out and get an iPhone if they didn't have one already.
And thats all I have to say about that.
*Removes tin-foil hat*