That is. Table is 'not optimized object code' compared to lists. So you should ask: why your object code is not optimized (and it slow loaded and slow rendered on my PC :).
> it looks disturbingly like the 8-bit computer market from the early 1980s
No, handhelds is mature market with more than 10 years history. There is already known winner processor - ARM (of different vendors but compatible). Others (MIPS, SH3 and Motorola are gone).
Android is competitor for the Windows CE and Symbian. But WindowsCE still looks stronger. Android's one (and only one for now) strong feature - it's open license. Java - ... - hope they will replace it soon with something scriptable. Or just add something, if they want all this J2ME.