By now, Gruber has an awful lot invested in Apple. He has managed to carve out a clear niche as a professional Apple opinionator (aside: I have now idea how Gru

By now, Gruber has an awful lot invested in Apple. He has managed to carve out a clear niche as a professional Apple opinionator (aside: I have now idea how Gruber makes his living, or whether Daring Fireball generates any income). Between his firm position as the third-party go-to guy for Apple-related commentary, his inside connections in Cupertino, and the complimentary name-dropping from Steve Jobs himself, Gruber has a lot to lose by burning bridges. Right now he's an embedded correspondent, but with one wrong move, he could easily end up frozen out like Geraldo Rivera. Those connections and bona fides render him an interested party, and that interest is going to lead him toward certain opinions and away from others. I'm not suggesting he never criticizes Apple, by the way. Constructive criticism is, after all, a crucial part of loyalty; and pointing out flaws around the margins lends him a sheen of objectivity that adds verisimilitude to his cheerleading. E.g. Apple needs to be more consistent in how the app approval process is applied (though the process is good in principal).