Well, I know a few people who feel the same way, including my wife. There's always someone in Windows forums, who are nostalgic about Windows phones. Technology news must've had a slow week couple of days ego to come out with this article...
Remembering Windows Phone (RIP)
I had two Windows Phone from Nokia, the Lumia 820 (WP8.0) and the 1020(WP8.1). I really feel sorry that I've drowned the Lumia 820 in saltwater, but glad that I made it out from the water. Yes, Patrick, I was fishing but did get the fish...
Microsoft probably had an idea to own the enterprise smartphone market, when purchased Nokia. It would had worked too, if MS did delivered as planned and integrate the Windows phone with Windows domain controllers and MS applications. The idea was good, a single domain controller managing desktops, laptops, smartphone MDM, but it never materialized. The residual sale of smartphones could have been substancial as well. Some people blame Ballmer for it, does have some merritt, but I am not certain about that he's single handedly responsible.
It's the interface of WP8.x that had been ahead of the times. The other two had just slabs of icons all around and just now, they are trying group similar apps in the same folders, have live icons, etc. For some reason, I still miss its virtual keyboard as well, liked that never had to type in the .com, it always had a key for it.
I should stop by now, otherwise I end up like the guy in the linked article, crying in a corner...