I feel like Steve had to get ousted and come back for the dramatic resurgence Apple has seen. It seems to me that both Apple and Steve needed to walk down their roads, and work things out for themselves, before they could both be ready to make the accomplishments they've made since 2000.
I don't think Apple would have allowed Steve such free reign as they did after his return, had he never left. Conversely, I don't think Steve had the contacts to do what was done with OS X, had he never met Avie and created NeXT.
I don't think Apple would have allowed Steve such free reign as they did after his return, had he never left. Conversely, I don't think Steve had the contacts to do what was done with OS X, had he never met Avie and created NeXT.
That's just my $0.02, though. :-)