It looks like Apple has decided we do not need better notifications, again! They know what is best for all of you!
They could at least have A single icon at the top that allows you to see that notification center has pending notifications. No need to have one for every app that has a notification (at least if we are talking about a feasible way to have Apple have the status bar icon while keeping their minimalistic design).
Someone above already proposed a solution that wouldn't clutter up the status bar. Have ONE icon with a number in the middle indicating the total number of notifications. At a glance then, you at least know that you have a notification.
If you are with your phone at the time you receive a notification you will see the popup which lets you know. If it's in your pocket you'll hear a sound or vibration which will let you know. The only time you need to pull down to see if there are missed notifications is after you were away from your phone and in that case the lockscreen will show a list of notifications much like the pull down notification center. So you'll see them if you're pulling out your phone to use it.
In addition to all of that there are also app icon badges which are visible from the homescreen. So no, you won't need to be constantly checking the notification center.
The status bar display is unnecessary and thankfully won't be added.
Your notifications are on the lock screen, you have to unlock so your notifications are there before even seeing the status bar. Even if you disable the lock screen notifications, is a downward swipe really that hard?
That's a lot of assumptions, you must have never had a jailbroken phone, status bar icons are needed, period, arguing against them is pointless and there is no logical basis for being against them.
What about the iPad 2 with SmartCover? You never see the lock screen on there
I don't get what you're saying. With a smart cover you also don't see the status bar; the entire screen is covered. Upon lifting the smart cover the lock screen becomes visible and so will the notifications.
Once you remove a smart cover or compatible case the screen goes from being off directly to the springboard. You never see the lock screen. (I have an iPad2 with smart cover and I just did this).
If you are with your phone at the time you receive a notification you will see the popup which lets you know. If it's in your pocket you'll hear a sound or vibration which will let you know. The only time you need to pull down to see if there are missed notifications is after you were away from your phone and in that case the lockscreen will show a list of notifications much like the pull down notification center. So you'll see them if you're pulling out your phone to use it.
In addition to all of that there are also app icon badges which are visible from the homescreen. So no, you won't need to be constantly checking the notification center.
The status bar display is unnecessary and thankfully won't be added.
I disagree because not everyone checks their notifications right when they come. The point of the new notifications is that you aren't interrupted when doing something such as playing a game. Assuming you ignore the notification and continue playing your game, there's a good chance that you would have forgot that you had a notification in the first place, since there's nothing on the lock screen and no icon to tell you to look at notification centre.