One could start with their financials: Apple has 40% gross margins (5 year average). Since 2007, they have more than doubled these margins. In that same time, t

One could start with their financials: Apple has 40% gross margins (5 year average). Since 2007, they have more than doubled these margins. In that same time, they've also introduced several new products. They are making more and making more from what they make. This all tends suggest that Steve Jobs not only valued profits but gave them the kind of treatment the OP suggests.