I'd say this is more evidence to that argument. After all, Apple was in shambles by the time the company hired Jobs back in 1996, and what is more impressive than obtaining a bundle of cash from one of your biggest competitors?

They didn't hire Jobs, they acquired his company. NeXT is probably the only acquired startup ever to take over the acquiring company.

Indeed...often referred to as NeXT acquiring Apple for a negative 429 million.