I'm also after said such phone butter lol...
Not just because "its Apple and they're successful" (I've come around to Apple of late, love my macbook and osx) but because there's no choice of phone, just the one. And its pretty boring, has a shit camera etc etc.
Also from what I've seen of Android its great, and when (not if) it takes off at a mass-market level, due to so many existing phone giants supporting it, it'll be even better. Open source linux-based = can customize interface/skins etc even more if you so choose and more people will be able to (legally) customize it.
For sure the HTC Hero is a major iPhone competitor (5mp cam/3.5mm jack/android 2.0) but its taking so long to get here, I'm not sure whether to wait because by the time it's out there will probably be a better HTC or other brand Droid out there.... Aussie phone carriers are so fken slow/shit....
http://www.htc.com/www/product/hero/specification.html
Here's another one that's just been released, the Motoralla Droid
http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_droid
Chunkier than iPhone but twice the screen res, 5mp, googlemaps/satnav FOR FREE (no monthly fee or $100 app b/s), flash10
Still, due to chunk-factor and no multitouch and the fact that HTCs are sexier and I'd get the Hero if a carrier would huury the fark up ...
Other HTCs:
Magic (in Oz, but getting old already with Hero and others on horizon...)
http://store.vodafone.com.au/htc-magic- ... offer.aspx
Tattoo - smaller/cheaper than Hero with decent specs.
http://www.htc.com/www/product/tattoo/s ... ation.html