You can jailbreak your iphone and then install apps from a number of repositories. This, however, probably voids your TOS and warranty agreement.
When I look at the mobile phone market, I am quite willing to use a G1 solely to support the prospect of a handset that I can control. The more people use an iPhone because it is epsilon better, the less companies will be inclined to give users freedom.
That didn't fix it? Ok, reinstall windows and the latest drivers from our website.
That didn't fix it? Ok, here's an RMA.
Not that different from other platform vendors...