Let's not forget the financial side of the decision. MS were desparate to get a decent hardware partner, willing to pay handsomely and Nokia was bleeding red ink. Google already had all of the Asian manufacturers in their pocket plus Motorola so they didn't need to compete.

So if you're Elop - needing time and cash to turn the ship around and getting the best offer from your former colleagues - what are you going to do?

I agree in hindsight Android still may have been the right call, but we'll probably never know. So far it hasn't been a saviour for anyone other than Samsung.

I think given the time he got there and the choices he had your description of Elop is a bit harsh, but I suspect it will also become the conventional wisdom.