I think the trend in Nexus Editions is nice. The Nexus line is good with the immediate updates (unless you are on VZW) but the hardware has been a step behind. While Google says that the Nexus project is about pushing the platform forward they are talking out of their ***. The Nexus 7 was about following the lead of the amazon Kindle and hitting the iPad dominance with a capable low cost tablet. Android was already on Tablets so it wasn't really about showcasing that or taking the Tablet version of Android to a new level. The Nexus 4 was a shot at breaking the carrier model by selling an unlocked $299 carrier agnostic phone (at least on the GSM carriers) that was a solid device. Seriously what about the Nexus 4 pushed the envelop? Screen technology? Battery Technology? Form Factor? It didn't even support the latest network technology in LTE. Which I think ultimately was a huge F U to VZW for how it handled the Galaxy Nexus. Beside you couldn't put it on VZW's LTE network w/o their control.
So honestly if HTC, Samsung, and Moto will sell "Nexus Editions" of their hero devices that is awesome. I would love to see the GS4 or the One come with 95% AOSP but have the better Camera App or some of the other innovations (Zoe or Dual Screen) built in. Have those apps as sepereate add ons. So when you get an AOSP update you can take it, but then you may have to wait for those features to be updated if you love them. Get away from skinning android and rather release some innovative capabilities to show what you can do on top of Android, now that AOSP does not as much help since ICS in the UI department.