My Mac 128K has a frowny face most of the time these days and not because of geriatric ailments.
Firstly, Apple didn't invent IP ownership, pioneer it or is the leader of it by any stretch. That award most likely goes to IBM.
Secondly, it is a myth that Microsoft's 'investment' in Apple is what it kept it alive. That money was in effect a settlement with Apple to drop the UI lawsuits. What kept Apple alive was the iMac.
Not to mention that there are plenty of tech giants out there who have not been whalin' on every competitor that moves with their tech patents.
Some companies seem to be staying true to the "defensive only" patent policy, Apple is one of the few that are weaponizing theirs to large degree.
If Apple ever ends up in a situation where iOS is the only mobile smartphone OS left, USDOJ antitrust will probably obliterate them. No more facebook integration, no more app store, no more curtailing customer choice, and all of the other shenanigans Apple does under the curtain of "freedom of choice".
It's weird that people keep refuting the importance of Microsoft's investment when the actual Apple people involved herald it as critical.
Microsoft's pledge to continue making Office and IE for Mac was way more significant, as Apple's share price had been going rapidly at the time. Microsoft showing faith in the platform put a temporary hold on that.
That gave Jobs the time he needed for rigorous reorganization. Gil Amelio had already fired thousands of employees. However, Jobs replaced the entire board of directors, most of the VPs and other high up execs. He discontinued most products, including the Newton MessagePad and eMate. He terminated the deals his predecessors made with Mac clone makers. And then he worked hard with the very best of the best within the company to create one or two new products a year, slowly building a strong lineup of profitable products.