I'm curious about this as well. Since it's main selling point is a redesign, thinner, lighter I'm tempted for this to be my first ipad I use just the smart cover for, but I'm curious on peoples opinions of the smart case as well. At $80 it one of the most expensive cases out there, not including high end diamond encrusted luxury cases of course. The downside of having just the smart cover, I think, is one drop might shatter your screen. That drop test video they showed made me cringe. lol