While I'm not arguing for the bloatware Samsung forces on you on their devices (I myself immediately flashed CyanogenMod the moment I got my S4), they do have a reason to do so - in case the relationship with Google sours.
Google has been steadily improving their own branded closed-source propriety apps while leaving the open-source AOSP apps mostly alone, and encouraging developers to use their Play Services Ecosystem - which is also propriety.
Those who actually fork AOSP are ones who rely on power users that are willing to root and flash the fork, or Amazon, who is big enough to support their own ecosystem. The rest of the smartphone manufacturers have to play by Google's rules (except for China).
Still, CarrierIQ was an awful mess.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by The Other Anonymous Coward.
Devil's Advocate
You might want to take a look at this article: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-10/21/googles-iron-grip-on-android
While I'm not arguing for the bloatware Samsung forces on you on their devices (I myself immediately flashed CyanogenMod the moment I got my S4), they do have a reason to do so - in case the relationship with Google sours.
Google has been steadily improving their own branded closed-source propriety apps while leaving the open-source AOSP apps mostly alone, and encouraging developers to use their Play Services Ecosystem - which is also propriety.
Those who actually fork AOSP are ones who rely on power users that are willing to root and flash the fork, or Amazon, who is big enough to support their own ecosystem. The rest of the smartphone manufacturers have to play by Google's rules (except for China).
Still, CarrierIQ was an awful mess.