You're right, and I think they are starting to sense it. This presents an interesting parallel universe in which Microsoft actually starts to channel some of that famous "underdog" energy that Steve Jobs himself channeled.

Lately I've actually heard sympathy for Microsoft in areas that used to be viciously anti-MS. It seems some of the hatred for MS has been transferred to Apple, and to a lesser extent, over to Google. But that's probably my subjective experience. I do think to the extent Microsoft can go lean, hungry, and humble, it will go better for them in the years to come.