It's entirely better than iOS for openness. As an app developer, it's dramatically more open -- you can override the core functionality of the OS if you want (browser, mail, etc.); you can't on iOS.
I'm willing to tolerate the closed nature of iOS for better security and (personally) an interface/hardware I prefer. But stuff like blocking Bitcoin apps is making me question this.
This point is true, although I hesitate to use the word 'open' to describe that.
Android certainly gives apps more control over the user's device. Whether this is 'better' remains to be seen.
As an owner of a small quantity of bitcoin, I am personally irritated by the blocking of bitcoin apps, but I'd rather that than have my phone be part of a botnet.
I'm willing to tolerate the closed nature of iOS for better security and (personally) an interface/hardware I prefer. But stuff like blocking Bitcoin apps is making me question this.