NeXT could have ended in the perfect Linux distro, open sourced, leading the Linux kernel development, making the distros environment even richer (Mac Linux for mac users, Ubuntu-Debian & similars for those who don't buy Apple hardware, Chrome OS for netbookers; and minoritary distros for the ones who tweak their own flavor.)

The world would be a better place.

The hardware? Some has been good. Some really advanced to their time. Some G4Cube-ish.

I have to admit the guy is brilliant.