@ Sean – Once it’s released if it’s as awesome as the rumors, I’ll be way more excited about it. Especially if it has the features you highlight. Apple does have a good track record of seeing a technology need, and creating a solution in a game-changing way, like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iTunes Music Store. But, they’ve also released a few duds.

I don’t see this device as being totally free though. They’ve had a huge success with micropayments (iTunes music and Apps), that a newspaper / magazine subscription model is likely as is Full-size Apps in the iTunes store.

I understand your points and they make perfect sense, but…..

-It will have every feature the iPhone and Touch have now, but more (rumored video conferencing).

-Already have 100,000+ Apps ready to upscale to the new format. And with a larger screen new Apps will be much more powerful.

-Rumored iWork Touch and iLife as well.

-Rumored that iWeb is being ported to iSlate as a personal book publishing program.

-Full access to the internet and all it offers.

-New forms of media rich magazines, books, and newspapers sold through the iTunes.

-A new level of gaming as well.

-Fully integrates with my existing home Macs and network.

-New hybrid OSX built from the ground up to work seamlessly with the Tablet experience (READ: not bloated Windows 7 ported to underpowered Tablets).

-Rumored eINK function for book reading.

In the end I see a very compelling device. And don’t forget, Apple’s Marketing Department is in full force feeding rumors to all sorts of media outlets preparing the public and developers for the iSlate. It’s pure genius, and all free.

1. Introductory bugs – ok granted, those are software bugs easily and quickly fixed.
2. Missing features – i dont agree with the 2G vs 3G or AppStore arguments. I still use 2G which I switched back into after trying 3G for a few days because, 3G consumes battery- I found myself turning off 3G, so I went back to 2G. AppStore wasnt ready yet- and it was software, no issues there. What I am saying is any missing features are missing due to a trade-off and not everyone might want them.
3.More Expensive – Apple got burned with that reduction in price thing. They wont be doing it again. Any device will fall in price as newer versions come out, but that is the game. Earlier you adopt, you will pay higher for the same device. It is adoption cost. For me I was sick of my then current phone- and it made great value to move myself to the iPhone- and I just loved it. It is not going to be “more expensive” compared to what you can leapfrog ahead into..
4.Not fully supported – just like many of your arguments- anything that can be fixed with software upgrades is a non-issue.
5.Will the device live up to the hype? – If history is any indicator – YES! But it is not exactly hype you are buying into.. You will get a chance to see, play with the device before buying it. So this is a non-issue.
6.Will Apple announce what we’re waiting for? – True, it may be different. But, Apple themselves havent come out and denied it like Steve Jobs said WSJ had it all wrong in Dec 2008. So it is a good bet it is on.