Seems safe to assume that NeXT's existence was predicated largely—possibly entirely—on Steve Jobs reputation to actually deliver millions of units. In the end,

Seems safe to assume that NeXT's existence was predicated largely—possibly entirely—on Steve Jobs reputation to actually deliver millions of units. In the end, he arguably "made it work" by the thinnest of margins. A better, if flawed, comparison to Lily might be the Apple I: entering an established, growing market with a product which lowers the threshold for adoption in very specific ways. (I'll defer to more informed, educated, and insightful individuals to carry this comparative analysis any further...)