IMO - the iPad Air is simply the best product Apple has launched since the iPhone 4. Using it is remarkable. I was so close to moving on from Apple. So close to buying a Nexus 5 and moving away from iOS.
I didn't purchase the iPhone 5S (the first iPhone I haven't owned). Then the iPad Air happened. It's plain magical. If there was a product SJobs really helped build it was this one.
I totally agree with you on the first part. As for the iPhone 5S I want to add that it basically shares the whole A7 64 bit architecture, the OS and also includes the fingerprint technology. So you pretty much should enjoy that one too. There were worse deals in the iPhone history if you ask me.