In fairness to Enderle, though, this is really just the most obvious example of a number of stories that were floating around since Thursday that were dialing back the fevered expectations. And he wasn't the only one who failed in that same article. Tim Bajarin said:

"If people are expecting new hardware, there will be a letdown," he said. "WWDC is about software and writing great applications for the Mac-based platforms."

Last week Gene Munster was clearly , so it wasn't just always-wrong Rob. What gives?

Two things. First of all, lots of people were pointing to . But history was a poor guide in this case, since Apple brought little to the table at the most recent Macworld Expo and WWDC has now become the company's premier annual showcase. Second, the horny one's personal speculation is that as people realized that Steve Jobs was not going to come back early, they started speculating that he might want to intro the new iPhone himself and have the unveiling held for his triumphant return (which would also include trumpets, a parade, clowns, and free pony rides for the kids).

That was technically possible based on what we knew last week, but would ultimately have been really, really stupid. For starters, people hate clowns. But also, it would have made the schedule all about Jobs at a time when he seems to be reducing his responsibilities. The message from Apple has been pretty clear: Jobs is coming back, but get used to seeing less of him. These other guys are capable, ready to lead, and doggone it, people like them.