That seems like a very engineering-centric view of the world. The engineering (both software and hardware) of Apple's products has certainly been important. But, especially as they were transitioning to increasingly be a consumer electronics brand, design was certainly a key piece that set them apart.
Agreed, and, to both your points, it's interesting that there is significant engineering never trumpeted in the press about the teams doing engineering to make the designs (physical designs) manufacture-able. it's a super interesting world where mechanical engineering and aesthetic design crossbreed.
What?
I was there then and long before, and that's just nonsense, fabricated nonsense by whoever Tripp Mickle is. What a sensationalist assertion.
The engineering, hard-core engineering, was a not entirely hidden powerhouse, and still is.