But in the end it doesn't sound like they shipped the configurability features, just the Jobs UI.

So the the moral here is "if you work for Steve Jobs, let him do the designs."

I might alter it slightly to say "If you work for someone that thinks they're Steve Jobs, let them do the designs".

Will definitely result in managerial approval of the design, but not necessarily a good design.

In all companies I’ve worked, managerial approval of a design (or feature) was far more important to obtain than a measurably good one. It’s called HIPPO: HIghest Paid Person’s Opinion.