[AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note I717] littlewierdo:
The reps know nothing more than we do, especially when it comes to software updates.

The only thing the reps are aware of are new hardware devices and that is supposed to be NDA (Non-Disclosure-Agreement).

They are going to say whatever they need to in order to sell the phone and all the craze is running the latest version of Android, which, has its pluses AND minuses.

The biggest issue as mentioned above with running the latest version of Android is the limited apps. Unfortunately, apps, even tho they might be compatible or even 'mostly' function, the developer has to specify an app as being compatible with ICS. If they do not, the app will not appear on the market for users running ICS. Here in lies the problem. An app developer has have ICS on their phone to guarantee ICS capability. Sure, they can 'VM' ICS on their desktop but that doesnt guarantee everything functions correctly. Then there are apps no longer being developed but that are still used. The developer is never going to change compatibility because they are no longer developing that app.

As an interesting side note, there is the reverse problem of this as well, see Rom Manager. Any users running Eclair (2.1) or earlier have to sideload Rom Manager. And if you are on a phone that doesnt allow sideloading, the task of getting it on the phone becomes much more tricky (adb-ing to the phone which involves a bunch of command line stuff).

As I said before, security is (for me), the biggest reason I like to be on the latest version of Android but truth be told, 2.3.6 gingerbread is fine.

Dont get me wrong, I love the look of ICS. I hate the lack of functionality ICS brings. And functionality is after all the reason I am on Android and NOT an Iphone (my opinion differs however on the tablet but that is a different discussion).

Probably the biggest development team for roms (they are developing for something like 60 devices now) is Cyanogen. While I dont really like how it is being handled and the lack of their most awesome feature they used to have, nightly builds, what I do like is the notion that if Android AND the hardware supports it, we will enable it as an option.

The first time I installed CM on my Captivate, my head was spinning from the number of options that I had as opposed to the options provided by Samsung / ATT. Later, when I had learned that this all stems from a Settings.apk (when you click Settings, it basically runs an app) and that every option on Android can be toggled by the developer to make an option available to the user just by modifying the Settings.apk file and if necessary writing the code to make an option do what that option says it does (but most options are hardcoded in the android kernel and merely need to be tweaked in the kernel source to make it function that way), I had to scratch my head and wonder as to why my phone was so crippled?

What is really going on behind the scenes with these carriers / phone makers that they dont make the phone fully functional?

Is it because they dont have the time to bake all the features? With new phones coming out every 2-3 months, this is viable...

Is it because they want to make future devices look more appealing by 'appearing' to have more features'?

Is it about control?

Sadly, these phones are capable of so much more and most users, unless they rom the device will never know. Alot of people assume the reason to rom is removing bloatware, more features / functionality, but there is something bigger than that. Its about taking back control of your device.

Which leads me full circle to where we started - you the user will have the option to choose which OS you want on your phone and will have to live with the consequences of whatever rom you choose. Each have their pluses and minuses but the control ultimately should lie in your hands, not the carrier or phone manufacturer.

All this having been said, give it a bit and ICS will be available on the note long before Samsung gets around to it (thats how I know ICS isnt close to being official - we dont have any leaks). Then YOU the user can decide whether you want to stay on a stock, crippled device or take the plunge to unlocking the notes full potential and installing a custom rom of your choosing.