I think that they probably take that approach to a point. For example when introducing brand new products. But when growth is slowing or no longer existent you have to look at your competitors and see what they've done differently. The "narrative that they don't _really_ pay that close attention to what their competitors do" is more of a testament that they don't operate like Samsung (watch their competitor and copy everything about their product).
I think in my mind I took that too far - that they truly say, forget what these guys are doing, we know better, and customers will eventually come around, PERIOD.
