Only idiots said that about 3D. It's purely an entertainment technology with no productivity benefits. Touch interface is the primary computer interface these days, especially for the younger generation. I don't think we're looking at a future of mouse and keyboard interfaces for smartphones and tablets, so touch is definitely here to stay.
Touch interface is also there for mac. It's just horizontal touch, not vertical touch.
Vertical touch is extremely stupid. What advantages does it provide? It works for mobile because mobile keyboards and and tracking pads were very small and annoying to use. Is a horizontal trackpad annoying to use? Not at all.
On the contrary, is a vertical pad annoying to use? Absolutely. I'm sure you know about the fatigue issues that obviously come up, and you cannot truthfully deny those.