IMO, I think htc & ss are making pretty good phones with latest hardware. It is just that they tend to overcrowd the market with clones of their flagship & have fanboys play down other brands.
SE/sony is making a comeback with 2011 xperias but unable to make much profit on the same year due to user hatred from x10 lineups & negative writings by anti-se critics/fanboys.
Such writers made a lot of consumers believe dual-core phones are the best in market while only minorities will realise gingerbread (2.3) cannot play magic with multi-core devices. No matter what they say, honeycomb (3.0) is still the first firmware to let multi-core devices to break its limits & run to its full potential.
The same writers also done a good marketing job with single-core lies that its bad in 2011. Until much later some users realise that single-core phones are still running smooth with latest firmware while 'lag' will also exist on dual-core phones.
In short, it means your galaxy s will 'suck' in year 2011 & your sensation will become 'useless' in year 2012. Since something better will be released & its believed that everyone will change phone every year. It may also not be that way if you believe your phone is already as good as you like it.
In the end, sony is being a 'misunderstood' brand that is recovering from its past mistake. It only requires good marketing like apple & ss to make it successful since its already pushing out great phones (if not the best as there is no definite best phone).
Flagship is no longer entitled to only the best phone for the brand on a certain year. If sony could come up with 3 flagships with great specs - best design flagship with compatible dock / walkman flagship with high quality sound & earpieces / best camera flagship with xenon flash to take high quality pictures & videos. Then no doubt they would see more profits in future, & more quality phones for consumers.
Just my (long-winded) 2 cents.
