It seems to me the NetList tecnology makes Samsung/Google's life much more efficient and profitable in that it significantly increases their storage capacity without having to add physical memory. But I do think it's a stretch to think they can't prosper without NetList. Indeed Samsung and Google may find it's cost effective to keep doing business with Netlist instead of paying for all the new memory.
If it was so easy for Samsung and Google to develop the market they did by using NetList's IP why did they resort to stealing it? Why did Google try to get the 912 patent dismissed? Why is Google a $1.6 trillion company? Who got them there? NetList got them there.
So I propose this question, who makes a comparable memory module sufficient for Samsung and Google to maintain their market share? It is just that simple. Nobody I know of. So, if Samsung and Google decide it's more cost effective to run the show without NetList IP, I say let them try. My bet is that they will not be able to maintain their market share. Samsung will have inferior products not able to hold a competitive advantage and Google will not be the search engine it once was.
I say go for it..... other players will step up to the plate and pay licensing/royalties for what NetList's technology brings as a competitive advantage. Samsung and GOOG will get left in the proverbial dust. They will survive, but they will not be the companies they once were, nor will their products. They will be the Sears and Roebuck's as compared to the new Amazons. All in my opinion.