You are probably correct - the Galaxy Nexus itself will not see anywhere near the sales that the iPhone 4S has. The real significance of this event is that it's the first Android 4.0 phone. And this release is mostly about trying to catch up with Apple on usability and glitz. They won't achieve the simple and clean experience that is the hallmark of iOS devices (especially as the phone vendors screw it up with their crapware), but hopefully this will make the Android experience a little less "clunky".
This is a Google phone. The Google software images have traditionally been pleasingly free of crapware. Though on the whole, you're absolutely correct that Android OEMs and carriers have a nasty habit of Dell-ifying their devices.
