> I wonder if possible Qualcomm doesn’t super care about the long tail of software?
Qualcomm's success is based more on its patent portfolio and how well it uses it, more than any other single factor. It doesn't really have to compete on quality, and their support has long been terrible - they're one of the main drivers of Android's poor reputation for hardware end-of-life. It doesn't matter though, because they have no meaningful competition in many areas.
They are also the main reason ARM Chromebooks are a relatively recent development. Google wanted 5-10 years of support, Qualcomm preferred 5-10 minutes.
Qualcomm's success is based more on its patent portfolio and how well it uses it, more than any other single factor. It doesn't really have to compete on quality, and their support has long been terrible - they're one of the main drivers of Android's poor reputation for hardware end-of-life. It doesn't matter though, because they have no meaningful competition in many areas.