I'm talking about managing the complexity of the device for users, not manage internal complexity (which they clearly can do very well). I own quite a bit of samsung gear, and they're quite awful at e.g. TV menu systems.

Samsung isn't an innovative company (at least in terms of products). They're a fast follower -- a hardware microsoft if you like. Good at execution and imitation. Nothing wrong with that, the world needs Samsungs just as it needs Apples and Googles.