Actually they can do, for instance multi window multi tasking, something Apple has only got working by fitting more RAM into there devices. A clear example of how raw specs do improve the user experience. And this also makes a complete mockery of any Anandtech website article, a site well known for its Apple bias considering the guy who started it now works for Apple!
Or how many people rave about the 6 Plus screen size or Android phablet screen size, again raw specs giving better user experience.
Honestly....there is rarely an argument that has an absolute answer. This is no exception.
Your above example is correct, yet MRU is correct as well. Compare the Galaxy 5 (I believe that is the correct model) with the Moto x 2014....or whatever Galaxy was present for the original Moto x (4?). The hardware was far superior on the Galaxy....but the Moto completely out performed, out stabilized, and outdid the Galaxy in the user experience. Honestly the Moto x did this with the majority of smart phones.
The idea that specs doesn't equal performance is a corner stone of the Apple philosophy. There have been times when this philosophy, imo, was used to raises profit margins and leave room for the next upgraded iPhone. The 6 and 6 plus, which I am typing on the later right now, which were sorely in need of more ram, and the user experienced suffered. But if Apple had included that, what would they tout in the next iPhone? Force touch? Not a killer feature imo, not yet.
Yet with this in mind, how often have you picked up an iPhone or iPad and thought "this is a piece of crap. It's slow, over heats, and the specs are completely outdid by the bloated interface". Never would be the correct answer.
That is why, I think, we are seeing more and more android manufacturers chase optimized performance over pure specs (lg G4, Moto phones). I believe that Samsung is moving that way as well. Yet, you are still not incorrect, because for the price....Apple iPhones should come with the ever hardware on the market, just like the galaxies.