Oh, I'm sure that the myriad of patched hildon-desktops around here modifying virtually any behaviour do not really exist... I think you are getting this completely wrong. What people and even qgil himself bragged about is the easiness by which people can root their own N900s, even in a Nokia-approved fashion. On your average Android phone the process is insanely more complicated, and the device vendor will usually try to stop you from doing it. After rooting, you're free to replace whatever you want of the system. The N900 even has a myriad of alternatives operating systems you can run on it (remember they replace _everything_), including some other devices proprietary ones. How many Android phones run something other than Android? Please, please don't confuse lack of support with openness.