But even if you forget about kernel and processor tweaks, the hardware is always going to be same, so removing bloatware and manufacturer skins and just running a stock android build designed for that specific phone will almost always make the phone faster. In the case of a nexus, your removing that stock android build for an even more suped up stock android build, that will still make it faster but not quite as big of a difference. You could make the case that rooting and running a custom rom is more of a necessity on a bloated, skinned device than it is on a nexus.

What makes a Nexus phone is not that they are easily hacked, unlocked, rooted, and customized(though they are exceptional for these things and it is quite wonderful). People forget that Nexus phones are what they are because you shouldn’t have to. Your stock experience with a Nexus phone is what people with different(lesser!) phones should be trying to achieve with theirs.

I honestly don’t understand all of the hate like this that the complainers receive. People are unhappy for something they have the right to be unhappy about, and in that case it’s very important that the display that dissatisfaction, because that’s how capitalism works. It’s the freedom of choice as a consumer to go elsewhere when there’s a better product or service being provided elsewhere. In this case, there is. Stock GSM Galaxy Nexuses have and have had Jelly Bean for quite some time now.

By the way. I own a Galaxy Nexus and unlocked/rooted the thing and installed cm9(JB wasn’t out yet) on the second day of ownership. I understand that the phone is incredible and offers such capabilities. It just shouldn’t be required, and it is because of a faulty carrier. That’s worth being upset about.

MOAR BLOAT!