Maybe because they struggled to run iOS 4 usably?

Can you name a handset that received official software updates for longer than the iPhone 3G? Seems odd to attack what is probably the longest officially supported phone yet... Sounds like axe grinding to me

They have a quarter the RAM (128MB) of the current models. Even iOS 4 is somewhat stripped down on them.

I'm sure Apple loves nudging people to buy a newer iPhone, but no informed observer should be surprised enough to be angry about lack of iOS 5 on these several generation old devices.

I have and use a 3G myself. On the whole, it has been well supported since 2008.