The original pre-Google Android company may have needed to reuse an existing dev base, but as Google, that is somewhat diminished. Google, like Apple, can take

The original pre-Google Android company may have needed to reuse an existing dev base, but as Google, that is somewhat diminished. Google, like Apple, can take a workable niche platform and then sell a group of devs on the advantages of that platform, particularly if it was something already somewhat familiar. Of course, it's easier for them not to have to, but I'm imagining a possible nice future, even if it's far from the most likely.