>Due to the optimization of the platform for entry-level smartphones and the removal of unnecessary middleware layers, mobile operators will have the ability to offer richer experiences ...
So, can we expect that mobile operators and/or manufacturers will yet again put junk on the phones?
What counts as junk is in the eye of the beholder; the stock ROM that shipped with my Nexus One came with Facebook pre-installed, something that 18 months ago would probably have been seen as a benefit for the average techie nerd type. Thankfully I uninstalled it via Titanium Backup before they rewrote my address book.
I don't see any reason to worry about this, or why it might differ from the Android experience any. If anything, Mozilla is more of a purist company and rules around what may be shipped on a co-branded handset should be a little stricter than what Android had.
However since they are the new entrant, I wouldn't be surprised if they bend over backwards to whore the new platform to the carriers until such times as they have an established market segment with which to negotiate better terms. If this is the case, and the platform is a success, I would count on Mozilla to deliver a purer experience in the long term.
By putting gecko directly on top of a linux kernel, mobile operators can deliver great performance on lower hardware specs.