Most of all, he believed that government through its misconceptions about the way the oil industry actually works has done more harm with its regulation than good.
His pattern of accomplishment following these choices--Microsoft's meteoric rise and an eventual settlement that didn't much restrict the company's monopoly on its browser and operating system--reflects Gates' understanding of how and when it's actually a good idea to break the rules.
In other words, when the news is not as game-changing as an iPad or an iTV, perhaps Apple would do itself some good by posting to its blog or tweeting a sneak peek of what its fan base might actually see in an effort to manage expectations.