I don't get it... Steve raises Apple from the dead, creates a whole new genre of movies (3D animation) and continues to innovate. Woz quit while he was ahead, shouts from the sidelines, and everyone listens to him?
I don't see HIM building anything.
While it's true that Woz isn't doing much of anything right now, he's at least voicing opinions that are widely held and he represents "the old Apple" (that is, whatever Apple should become).
People listen to Woz because he's smart.
I guess the keyword is "listen to" and not "agree with" or "follow". While most smart people are worth listening to, most may not be worth following (either because they're evil or narrowly focused or some other reason).
I'm just pointing out that being a critic is easy compared to being a builder.
Interesting choice of words, since Woz is famous for being an amazing builder, and Jobs for being basically an excellent critic.
Well, Woz stopped building things a long time ago.
I think his complaint that Apple has been focusing too much on eye-candy and not enough on usability in Leopard is a pretty legitimate point.
Woz is always so critical, at least in part, because it helps consumers trust the company. Having the second co-founder "on the side of the consumer" helps to build that bond between the tech-savvy apple fanboys, and the company itself. I don't mean to say that what he says isn't sincere, but rather, that highlighting these things and making them public does wonders for the company...and yes, he still cares for the well-being of Apple.
Nowadays, the average Apple consumer doesn't even know who Steve Wozniac is.
They don't have to -- you just need the hardcore fans to. The fans, after all, have a fair amount of power over the rest of public opinion.