Well written.
I believe you will find the Apple-hate a one-way argument. I have no problem with Samsung products as long as they do not copy Apple. The problem Samsung has is one of Lithium battery technology and perhaps assembly and packaging methodology.
Nothing wrong with the design per se. But the battery appears to have been damaged during assembly or processing.
I think the problem lies in making the batteries too dense and then using quick charging technology. Quick charging will charge the phone to 60% in 15 minutes. . . but it does it with a lot of heat being added and the battery will expand. Do that to a Lithium Ion battery that has some already existing internal connectivity issues, and you are likely to get discharge arcing inside. That may result in more and more arcing as the charging cycles repeat. Eventually that results in a fire.
Of course, damaging the battery by putting too much pressure on the battery in assembly can exacerbate that as well.
Apple has eschewed the fast charging cycle, although they certainly know the technology and could incorporate it in their devices, I think for that reason. Trickle charging does not heat the battery anywhere nearly as much.