I'd be interested if these damn companies stopped using Android and designed a better OS. If only iOS could be licensed and put on these things.
In many ways the openness of Android is also a weakness. If you look at HTC, Samsung, LG, etc. I really do wonder how much of the mobile division is spent on creating a bloated ROM. We all know software projects take a lot of manpower, so I can bet you they're all spending a LOT of efforts in creating their own SMS app, their own email app, etc.
OnePlus One's advantage is they're taking CM essentially and just bundling it with the phone. Sure there's some customizations but not to the level of TouchWiz. Their team had more resources to focus on other things rather than to just create a ROM. That was a huge point by the CEO.
In many ways Google can be a bit at blame here. Android 2.x was so unpolished that OEMs HAD to get out there and develop a lot more. While I don't like Apple's closed model, some of the company values do make sense. Look at how much effort they go in to design features and to make sure that it's implemented in the best possible way. Android may have gotten to copy and paste at first, but it took multiple iterations and even today, there are users asking for a magnifying glass like cursor selector. The pre Android 2.3 implementation of C&P was practically unusable. I remember having to use the hardware keyboard of the Moto Droid just to copy paste in Gmail.
I think it's interesting where we stand now. Google's clamping down and exerting more control and polishing its apps. Apple's recognizing the need to open up and respond to consumer demands. Both sides are improving, and it'll be interesting to see where things go.