Almost 40 years ago, James E. Robison, of Indianhead Mills, published the following in the company’s policy manual:

The objective of our company is to increase the intrinsic value of our common stock. We are not in business to grow bigger for the sake of size, nor to become more diversified, nor to make the most or best of anything, nor to provide jobs, have the most modern plants, the happiest customers, lead in new product development, or to achieve any other status which has no relation to the economic use of capital. Any or all of these may be, from time to time, a means to our objective, but means and ends must never be confused. We are in business solely to improve the inherent value of the common stockholders’ equity in the company.

In the noisy battle between Adobe and Apple, remember the quote above. Remeber it especially when you see rants about the “unethical” and “anti-competitive” Apple, or about customers as unknowing shills. Remember that the only shills are those who argue in the public forum and try to appeal to emotion by branding Apple as an evil corporation.