I thought the design team always worked up 3 working prototypes from a set of 10 foam mockups. There was an article from someone with intimate knowledge of Ives lab some years back stating this was protocol for all Apple products.

Another element of that was the team that tried to adapt iPodOS for iPhone vs Forstall's team that adapted OSX.

and the Apple (II etc) vs Mac teams warring with each other.

Seriously? Click wheel iPhone lost shockingly? The click wheel on most laptops wears out so fast for me, and the chances of that happening on a smaller phone wheel is just so much higher.