If by "marketing" you mean "understanding what the market really wanted and then making it", then I agree.

That's a bit too simplistic and really discounts the product. Over the past decade or so, Apple has recently had a very good run of ads (very recent ads notwithstanding). But I think that most of that started with the iPod ads. That is what gave Apple it's trendiness. What Apple is really good at is giving people a well designed product that does what they need, does it well, and isn't much more expensive (or even cheaper) than their competitors.

But really, it's a combination of product design and execution. Apple's hidden genius lies in their supply chain management. It's not sexy, but it's what Tim Cook executed masterfully. And that's what makes Apple its profits.

I don't know that you can separate marketing from making great products as causes of Apple's success. I think both are needed.

This couldn't be more wrong if you tried to be wrong. Apple actually spent relatively little on marketing, and it's basically impossible to argue that the iPhone's success, for instance, was because of marketing. It wasn't. It was because of superior design, superior functionality and overwhelmingly good word-of-mouth advertising.

You don't have to hire a bunch of marketing suits if your product is obviously better.

There exists a treasure trove of truly feculent Apple marketing for you to peruse if you ever have the inclination. But here's a downvote if you're in a rush.

Nothing kills a bad product faster than good marketing.