I guess that depends on your definition of "modern history". Yes, Apple has a lot of cash, but is their current top corp based on value mean they are bigger in influence/effect on people's lives than others in history. I'm thinking AT&T pre-breakup, Standard Oil, rail roads, etc. I understand what the point the GP was making. It just sent me down a tangential bit of thinking. Ugh, and on a Saturday!

Interesting thoughts. I think a lot of this comparing Apple to the companies you listed is the wrong way to think about them.

First, it's not just Apple. The App Store/ecosystem concept is a newish concept, and probably needs completely new types of regulation outside of anti-trust. Apple, Google, MS, Sony, Nintendo, etc... are for the most part monopolies in their respective worlds, but fail at the traditional monopoly definition. Waiting for a company to achieve an AT&T or Standard Oil level level of power is an outdated way of thinking. Apple also doesn't have anywhere near that level of power.