^^^^^^^^^^They did not intentionally lock out OS 9 - they just didn't update the Open Firmware to support OS 9 on certain new models when they were released.^^^^^^^^^^
That's pretty much a glass half empty/full type of attitude.
So it's not what apple did, but rather what they didn't do? I really don't see the difference considering how much people pay for these machines. I could see them cutting this support on the ibooks and imac lines, but not the power lines of products.
Have you ever seen someone get fired from their job for what they *didn't* do? Yeah, either way it's the consequences of such actions that create problems.
^^^^^^^^^^Apple did continue to sell some models that could boot OS 9 until Quark was updated to run Mac OS X.^^^^^^^^^^^
Yeah, they did. However, they should've waited until G5 machines to do........... errr..... Not do what they should've done. It's just good customer service.
Did the G4s come with an operating system?
Of course they did... OS X.
Did the G4s still run old OS 9 and lower Applications?
Yes... in Classic Mode.
Classic Mode was only discontinued in 2006 with the introduction of the Intel Macs, five years after the discontinuation of OS9.
So what is your problem?
Do you even own a Mac?