On my Nexus 4 (without carrier apps) I can't remove Chrome, Drive, Currents, Email, Gmail, Keep, Hangouts, Maps, Photos, Play Games, Play Movies and TV, Play Music, Play Newstand, News and Weather ... the list goes on and on. That adds up to a ton of space and clutters my menu. I want some of them, but I don't want some of the others, either way I'm stuck with them, which means I by default always need to get the more expensive phone with more storage because more and more things come with the phone, that's even _before_ a carrier touches it.
And both the UI performance and battery performance woes on Android phones has been well documented. I've had every flagship Nexus/Google phone since the G1 and battery life and performance are not getting better overall.
Every time they make an improvement in Android that improves battery life they just ship a thinner phone with a faster CPU. My G1, Nexus One, Nexus S, Nexus 4, always have lasted about a day. I don't own a Nexus 5 yet but have friends that do and they do the same thing I do - a house/car full of chargers and a battery pack for travel.
Don't get me wrong I still like my Android phone, I just don't love it.