Apple's revenue and margins have not sustained that kind of growth - classic sign it's a bubble. It may inflate a lot more, but it shows all the signs of a bubble, and the pop will be loud and harsh...
Even you admitted you see know sane reason why Apple should be higher valued than XOM, that it should be the most valuable company in the world. If it closes in on that point, it's bubble all the way!
Lower revenue, smaller profit margins, and declining market share relative to its competitors - those aren't the signs of a company poised to take over the world!
A twelve year long bubble for one company?
Even you admitted you see know sane reason why Apple should be higher valued than XOM
I didn't see how Apple could become higher-valued than XOM. But the market will decide. I've been wrong before.
Lower revenue, smaller profit margins, and declining market share relative to its competitors - those aren't the signs of a company poised to take over the world!
Constant, successful, highly profitable branching out into new markets. Almost constant high growth in profits and sales in all markets year after year for a decade. That is the sign of a company poised to take over the world. Because ONE (and only one) product on one carrier per market isn't growing as fast as usually lower-priced, commodity competitors from several different companies on all carriers is not a reason to worry.
Look at the iPhone's actual competitors. Your great success stories were the Droid X with 150K sales in the first week, the EVO 4g with 150K the first weekend, the Samsung Galaxy with a million in 45 days. The iPhone 4 shipped 1.7 million in the first weekend, 3 million in 3 weeks.