> the hardware needed to run android well outstrips that needed to run windows phone well
It is a myth. The worst (and only) SoC where WP8 runs is the Snapdragon Krait. On this configuration, Android runs very well (see also Nexus 4 or Nexus 7 2013).
Added to that, WP8 phones have lower-resolution displays (Lumia 520: 800x480, Moto G: 1280x720; Lumia 1020: 1280x720, Galaxy S4: 1920x1080), which drives down the needed RAM for your framebuffer, it's backing stores, textures and assests.
It is a myth. The worst (and only) SoC where WP8 runs is the Snapdragon Krait. On this configuration, Android runs very well (see also Nexus 4 or Nexus 7 2013).
Added to that, WP8 phones have lower-resolution displays (Lumia 520: 800x480, Moto G: 1280x720; Lumia 1020: 1280x720, Galaxy S4: 1920x1080), which drives down the needed RAM for your framebuffer, it's backing stores, textures and assests.