It may sound like a bit of a cop-out but at least in the USA, it is very difficult for anyone other than Apple to "create" a market segment like that. Nokia just does not have the same allure to the press and, would seem, sufficient understanding of what drives consumers to such things - i.e. make them buy something they did not know they needed .
Regrettably, seeing how much of the tech press and major software companies reside in the USA, it means that it would have been an uphill battle. I would speculate that in many ways the prior Maemo devices were as much about feeling out the market as much as getting a niche device out. They were well-received but only in certain circles, it would seem.
I am certain that did colour how Maemo 5 and the break later to MeeGo came about. I wouldn't say desperation, it is the wrong word. Perhaps frustration with seeing others getting a hold of a market that could have been cornered years ago.