This is an extremely accurate statement that can be complemented by the telco side - telcos that sold BlackBerry devices saw it as a great way to "lock in" customers in the business/corporate sector, add an extra data service to the customers' bill, and reduce the number of bandwidth-guzzling PDAs (and PCs) on the fledgeling GPRS networks (which were a far cry from the [3-5]G networks we have today).

It was initially played as an exclusive (not many telcos wanted to devote APNs to manufacturers or set up the tunnelling to the BES), which helped cement that worldview.

From an IT perspective again, you also had pretty decent device management (activation/restriction/lockout/wipe) features.

Customers, on the other hand, loved having usable e-mail and calendaring on their pockets (and later IM, but that's part to RIM's failed attempt at going mainstream, and I do thing I will write that post soon...).

Oh, and they also loved week long battery life. Sad that is now a thing of the distant past.