No I'm positing that this one particular characteristic not only hasn't been completely eradicated yet, but I don't think they're even trying to eradicate it (a

No I'm positing that this one particular characteristic not only hasn't been completely eradicated yet, but I don't think they're even trying to eradicate it (although they are trying to mitigate it). Fundamentally Apple is still a company run by designers and Google is still a company run by engineering and yes companies can change what they are fundamentally about but no I don't see either of these two have done this. If anything, I see it being reinforced, with this being personified with moves like Jony Ive taking over Forstall's duties and Melissa Mayer needing to leave Google. I don't like the term you've chosen here, "taint" because Google's culture and hiring preferences have certainly paid off for them in other ways.