Lifehacker: Recently, Google fans finally got what they've wanted since the HTC Hero first came out: stock Android versions of the most popular, non-Nexus handsets. However, if you aren't able to pick up one of those phones, you can still get the stock experience, without having to root your device.
That whole attempting to separate Android from its services thing... I wonder what the end goal of the project is? Will android transform into a chrome os or firefox mobile type thing?
"Obviously, the nuclear option is to root your phone and install a custom ROM that's based off stock Android, like CyanogenMod. We highly recommend doing this" avoid CM for some phones, I have encountered the blackhole memory bug on far too many devices or the class 10SD headache.
IMO this was more like the casuals guide to skinning your android to default.