Android 4.0: Tracking ICS's Availability on Smartphones

If a manufacturer is struggling to keep their phones updated then they should take a leaf out of Apple's book and reduce the number of models. HTC and Sony are doing; offer High, Medium and Low budget phone. Keep it simple and everyone benefits. I see no reason why companies need to reason dozens of variants; variety is important but stretching yourself thin is a bad thing.
I mean, take a look at the Motorola Xoom, not a phone but runs Android; the US version got ICS in Jan whereas pretty much the entire rest of the world is still waiting... and for what? Is my UK version of ICS going to see that extra 5 months+ of waiting time translate to a better OS experience?

Android is advancing so quickly that previous generations can't run the latest versions so they don't get upgraded, if you want the latest and greatest, pay up stfu.

There is an issue caused by carriers delaying updates so they can add their own bloatware and manufactures updating their own custom themes, if you buy a carrier-branded-non-Google phone then you have accepted this.

This is the MAIN reason the last 2 smartphones I've purchased have been bought via Amazon or direct from the manufacturer. Granted, Dell had no clue how to advertise the Streak, but, even with 2.2.2 is was a good device. I bought my non branded Note via Amazon Germany last December, because I suspected from past instances, that at&t doesn't give a hoot about updating any of its carrier branded devices, save for the iJunk. Not to mention, 99% of the time, if you purchase a carrier device, it will come with bloatware & have features locked out.
It's time for carriers to just be a pipe, and allow anyone to purchase any phone, that works with their network, but the "fat dumb & happy" people of the USA, think you can get a "bargin" with a 50 dollar phone, not realizing that after the 2 year contract, they have spent well over what a full retail price phone would cost, and use something like straight talk.

ICS on Samsung s2 - Careful what you wish for, my update has trashed my wifi and I'm going back to gingerbread, soon as I figure out how.