I agree with @gruber. It's all overplayed & misses the point. Jobs dictated these OSX/iOS design cues from the start so this is not about Skeuomorphism.

Given that (I'm not a fan of the design either) we must give Jobs the benefit of the doubt as there must have been some reason he moved OSX/iOS in that direction & did so (which I think is fascinating) while his "best friend" held strong contempt for such "design". Let's not forget the end results either.

If the reports are true no matter how good Forstall is he's not worth more than Bob M, Bertrand & a cold war w/Jobs spiritual successor. Clearly Cook & the Board recognized as much & I hope they also recognize they should acquire Bertrand's startup to get him back & improve iCloud to boot.