With Apple your paying as much for the gadget as you are the logo, that much is true and im some ways I do compare it to buying a regular non popular brand pair of Sneekers / Running Shoes / Trainers (or what ever you trendy kids call em these days) to a pair of Nike / Rebook or what nots both do exactly the same job to most of the time the same degree too (as long as you don't buy the absolute cheapest possible) some of it your paying for branding.
That said:
Do I hate apple? Nope not at all.
Do I feel iOS is restricted on there iPod/Pad/Phone? Yeah, though generally things do run smoother with them for that fact.
Do I own Apple products? Yup 1x 3rd Gen Nano, 1x 5th Gen Video (Broken atm) & 1x iPhone 3GS.
Would I recommend an Apple product? Depends on the person if they want a less fuss smartphone then sure why not.
Is my phone I use from Apple? Nope. Samsung Galaxy S2. Quite a nice phone though a bit older now.
I Tend to stand back and look at the big picture with all this some hate Apple "Fanboys" or what nots but in honesty there on Both sides... Hell I think I had a thread on the temp at one point when I was using an iPhone 4 on how much I was harassed by Android users that I should "Stop being a sheep" and get a android (though amusingly I shot that comment down mentioning that the android marketshare is huge compared to apple so technically getting a android by that argument would make me a sheep) but being on Android I get Apple fanboys telling me there iPhones just work ect ect. I tend to try to ignore it all.
You see as much as you like or dislike a company or a product of a company its a waste of time to moan and rant about it. It's much more simple to vote with your wallet and let others use what they want to use! If they are happy on there iPad and your happy on your Galaxy Tab why rock the boat ya know
As a side note before I forget: I never actually paid for any of the Apple products above they was given to me and the 3GS I use as an iPod Touch these days