The first comment from user “Top Gear” seems to hit the sentiment I had on the nose:
Bad news for Android. Not so for Apple. People don’t buy iPhones because their carrier rep recommends them. They buy the iPhone because it’s the iPhone. The iPhone’s popularity is out of the carrier’s control.
But Android on the other hand… If most people walk in and ask for a ‘touch phone’, they’re being guided towards Android. If they’re guided towards a WP, then they will get that instead.