Again, marginalizing just like the OP. No different. You fail to see anything beyond the basics. Consider the Apps for the front facing camera. Consider the Apps for the gyroscope. The greatest part of the iPhone is you're not limited to the native Apps.
You point to a different device for each feature. I count 3 different devices you mentioned, to do what the iPhone 4 does in 1.
I'm not failing to see anything. I think the updates like the camera and gyro are great. However, the camera isn't of much use in terms of this generation. A 5mp camera is cool, (well it was about 9 years ago when that was standard issue on P&S Cameras) but it's certainly not going to yield much in terms of IQ gains. you need to 4x MP's to get double the resolution on a print.
A gyro will add the capability of a image stabilized camera, but that's "if" and when they decide to actually use it to do so. Even so, the camera's sensor is the weak spot so in a situation where IS will help, the image will likely suffer from lots of noise or motion blur from the subject itself. Besides, the lens doesn't have optical zoom, so IS isn't really even needed. Should it have a 200mm zoom, then perhaps, but again, sensor quality will limit the low light use of a photo beyond what a camera phone image is likely going to be used for. Cool to have but not a deal maker for me.
The video capabilities are much the same. Cool to use, but not a deal maker in terms of being able to leave my video cam at home for a real worthy event. Now again, if they implement the gyro for IS in video, then it will no doubt help the IQ when shooting vids. However, I will chuckle if the guy standing next to me intends to capture lifetime memories of little Joey on stage with a sensor that is a fraction of the size of a real video camera or digital camera's sensor.
Want to video chat? Sure, let me know when all my friends and coworkers have an iPhone 4 or when facetime will work with Droids and other Smartphones. I am not sure, but I don't think you can use it unless you're on wifi....correct me if I'm wrong. Either way, it's not much use. Add in a VGA front camera and it makes the user on the other end see a pretty low quality image of you...even if they are looking at a great quality iPhone 4 Retinal Screen. That to me speaks wonders about the iPhone 4Gs which will likely update the network capability to a true 4G speed and will in turn allow for a higher quality camera on both sides. Just a guess on my part though. I believe AT&T's network is maxed at 7.2mbps right now...and that's only in a handful of markets. Most are limited to 3mbps. I do believe they are working on moving to LTE, but there's zero mention of the next iPhone 4 having the ability to use an LTE network. Me, I'll wait until they have the capability to really deliver true network capable speeds that make a difference.
They are all incremental updates that will make the iphone 4 a step forward, but the real "value" is when I and others can actually make use of them. Question my "expertise" all you want. I'm not proclaiming any. Just that the value of the new hardware is not all that for everyone. Some will right from the get-go. I likely won't. I'm more interested in the OS updates that will make it so I no longer have to Jailbreak my 3Gs to get what I want. A free OS update on an already in-hand Gs is a way better value than paying to upgrade a Gs to the iPhone 4.
The 4th gen will be a great upgrade for 1G and 2G users and will offer nice updates for even basic 3G users. However, I don't think Apple intends for the 3Gs crowed to jump up just yet. Many will be limited by contracts, but likely best for them anyway. It won't be until the next release that it will really matter anyway.
