Interesting thoughts.
Have read a handful of posts from people desiring a return to a "PPC."
However - from my perspective - a "PPC" has always equated to a "PDA": basically a portable PIM app, with no need for a camera, phone, or GPS, and only a limited need for media playing.
As soon as you start adding things on, the question becomes "Where to Stop?"
The idea of a plug-it-into-your-car device that can now control your car radio / media, gps, in-car BT phone access - and God Knows What Else - probably has merit for some users, but now on top of the $159 for Outlook we will need a fancy car radio that accepts the faceplate controller/phone/pda/media player/gps unit...
Certainly does not seem the minimalist approach that "PPC" suggests, but suspect that that is at least part of the problem: the term "PPC" suggests different things to different people. Which leaves the manufacturer in a bind, and leads to products that are analogous to MS Word: more features than nearly anyone really needs, but SOMEBODY likes each of them (or would, if only they were better implemented!).
(Liked your point when noting that "No-one uses CD...." Will admit that I find CASSETTE TAPES a perfectly good source of music / lectures whenever in the car for long enough that local radio proves insufficient...
)
Share your anger over the whole "Syncs only with Outlook Pro, and NO we are not going to include a copy with the device" approach. We dodged part of that bullet through a (legitimate) Academic MS Office purchase - had to be SOME benefit to rolling up huge educational loans at our ages - but in the absence of a new "PDA/Smartphone" we would NOT have been upgrading Office at all.
Poor sync options seem as danged short-sighted as the inability / unwillingness to offer OS upgrades for WinMo based devices!
..........
BTW, how do you like your Netbook? We recently picked up a Dell Mini 10v, and while it is a basic system, it has worked fine: much easier to carry than my old Dell Inspiron, with a longer battery life (optional 6-cell unit), and decent keyboard (although with a mediocre touch pad).
Still carry my Axim X30 for most note taking: no phone (or camera, gps, media playing...) equals longer battery life than my Fuze, but wife prefers having the Real keyboard that the Mini offers.