Funny, I just ran across tidbit of information pertaining Casio leaving digital compact camera market over the weekend.

I agree. Sites like Flickr like to point out that the iPhone is their most used camera. I've heard folks talk about getting a particular phone mainly due to the camera whereas I rarely hear (now) folks bemoan the lack of a hardware keyboard beyond this forum.

Not that it is not important; quite the opposite. But it's just an indicator of how the hardware keyboard is not really a primary concern any longer to the average consumer.