"It is also failing because of carrier stores and salesmen, who seem to be steering people away from Windows Phones to Android LTE devices."
There's truth to that. When I asked what Windows Phones the store had, the sales clerk gave me a surprised look and asked "Are you sure you want that?".
When I bought a Windows Phone, the salesman tried very hard to steer me away. I asked about the Samsung Focus, and he showed me the Samsung Galaxy S instead. In the end I had to just say "is there someone else I can talk to who won't let me walk out the door right now?"
There's truth to that. When I asked what Windows Phones the store had, the sales clerk gave me a surprised look and asked "Are you sure you want that?".