Why should they produce a model that was a sales flop? That all depends on whether it flopped so hard as to be literally unprofitable. The Mini line was the only small smartphone that offered top-range hardware of any manufacturer on any platform. Any small phones on Android have generations-old specs, lousy cameras, and are guaranteed to never receive any OS updates. The Mini got me to switch to Apple after more than a decade using Android phones, and I subsequently bought an iPhone for my son and as soon as my wife's current contract is up, she will be switching to an iPhone. That will make 3 sales and a likelihood to stay on the platform in the future, all because an option was offered to people who preferred a small phone. There's value in offering something for everyone, even if some models don't sell as well as others. As long as it didn't loose money, the Mini line offered something no other manufacturer did, and was loved by a vocal minority.