Yes, and Steve Jobs was also ousted from Apple for (in part) that reason. One of the articles even described Forstall as "mini-Steve".

I'm just pointing out that "Forstall was a problem" isn't a new narrative that is being spun due to his departure, but one that has been around for some time.

With this in mind, the "never fit into the culture of Apple" line in the WSJ article is telling. Jobs never fit into the culture of Apple either -- rather, the culture of apple fit into Jobs.

It sounds like Forstall wanted to be like Steve, and, for better or for worse, he wasn't allowed to.

So, what I'm hearing is that in about 10 years, Forstall will be brought to "save" apple again?

Forstall is no Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs was no Steve Jobs... until later anyway.

Over the years I have certainly seen what I think are cases of hindsight or survivorship bias where people think "if I want to be Steve Jobs I have to be a jerk!" People can work this in a PR push like Forstall may have done in the BW profile.

"cases of hindsight or survivorship bias where people think "if I want to be Steve Jobs I have to be a jerk"

Haven't countless MBAs embraced those same ideas before Apple, or even the socially inept who myopically claim that "women like jerks"?

People enjoy looking for excuses for their poor behavior, and they'll usually find them without too much trouble.

Sure, and I'll bet it's all in the family of psychological rationalization. I've never read it, but maybe one can come out of "What Color Is Your Parachute?" with the answer, "be Steve Jobs," or one of those old-timey employment predictors like "You are: A Jerk; Possible careers: Steve Jobs or bad police officer."