I would expect a pencil ready Mini, and a Mini Pencil. It's currently cartoonishly long for a Mini iPad.
I would say that it is "cartoonishly long" even with the 9.7" iPad Pro. I'm not sure if the pencil just required that much space, but its very strange and "un-apple like" design. My end cap is has already loosened up considerably lightning and has already loosened up (I always feel like I'm going to look the cap or the charging adapter). By the time we actually end of seeing a new/updated iPad mini that supports apple pencil, I think the pencil will be much smaller and (hopefully) more thought out will be put into its replacements (smaller size, get rid or the end cap).
At the very least, Apple needs to address "accessory related" changes that have been slowing rolling out of the past 2 years.
1. I love Apple products and their accessories because they always fit perfect and I have rarely had an issue. The benefit outweighed the cost for me, but the recent price increases for the official apple accessories.
-all recent ipad updates no longer offer quality cases at a decent price. The leather smart case I had for both my ipad air 2 and iPad mini retina were fantastic. I always thought the leather apple smart cases look extremely professional, were made of quality leather that aged well, and gave customers a solid full protection case. Now that they have stopped offering these for the recently updated iPads (iPad mini 4, iPad Pro 12.9 & 9.7") and only offer 1 solution (2 separate products) for full front and back protect is ridiculous by itself. Additionally, the fact that these new options aren't even made of leather (using cheap silicon instead) makes no sense. Yes I know people will say that if customers are willing to pay them, why not raise the price, I argue that it will only damage Apple's relationship with their customers. I'm willing to pay a higher price for a macbook pro because I know it will last me at least 3-4 years and will likely be problem free. If apple doubled the price of their MacBook's and started making them out of plastic, do you think it would go over well with customers....probably not. And don't argue that its all due to the smart connector....if that were the real reason for the change then why was the iPad mini 4 included in the change.
2. Start selling extra / replacements parts online at a decent price. Yes, you can buy a replacement Apple pencil charing adapter, but only by sitting on the phone with applecare to set it up. It's a charging adapter that is pretty essential, offer it in stores or online!
3. Some of the replacement parts prices are ridiculous. Who would pay over $30 (price w/ shipping included) for a tiny replacement apple pencil cap when you can buy an additional one for $100....doesn't make much sense.
.) I'd utterly love it if the next Mini gets Pencil support. For a consumption device and minor mark ups of pdfs and drawing. I'd say, yes please. 
