There is also this idea that some people (designers / product managers) prune away features that they feel confuse the user, but I don't know how factually true that actually is.
It’s certainly true, but normally it’s based on real data rather than feelings. It turns out us computer experts are a tiny minority of computer users so things we want to do are often hidden. Better than my dad finding the options though.
Too many product managers these days who don't actually understand or engage with the product and instead think they can create from reading metrics tea leaves alone.
It appears that Apple are following the Gnome philosophy, which is ironic because the Gnome philosophy was trying to emulate what they believed was the Apple philosophy.
Wouldn't the simpler explanation be that Gnome was correct in their belief of what Apple's philosophy is? :)