Thank you for your article! But I actually disagree with the first part of your argumentation. Responding to customer's requests and needs would imply that customers know what they need. And that thesis has been falsified years ago. I personally see the job of a product manager more of an interface to align the creativty of co-workers with the actual needs of the market. Taking Apple for example: they NEVER do what people think they would need. Until they release the product. And then the needs of the customers change :)