The numbers game is a myth!
What really matters is who is making the money. As anyone knows if you want answers, follow the money. Only fools ignore this.
Google has stated it's Android OS business represents about $912,000,000 to date based on the license fees manufacturers have paid. Small numbers in the overall picture and we don't know the actual development cost incurred by Google to put Android OS on the market.
Following the money we discover that the latest recipient of a windfall cash cow from Android is Microsoft! Seems they have some very strong patents that legal experts from the various Android phone manufacturers do not wish to fight and have decided to just pay a license fee. But that is not all. Apple, Nokia, RIM, HP and Oracle also have patent IP that is in play. Recently, out of business Nortel patents went up for auction and were bought by Apple. Now Apple can also profit by Android license fees. Meanwhile Google does not choose to defend it's own IP and sits back while the phone makers continue to rack up license fees to many IP owners.
One article estimates fees amounting to $60 per Android device activation in addition to what they already pay Google. This author feels the IP fees manufacturers pay out to patent owners, including Apple, is Android's Achilles Heel.
Now I have to ask this question: What is preventing iOS from beating out Android? Simply that Android is available to these phone manufacturers while iOS is exclusive to Apple. What would happen if Apple decided to license it's iOS to every Android phone maker for $5 a device? In short order, Android would become too expensive and Google, with such low profits from the venture may just decide to drop it.