I might be in the minority here, but we've been using this analog technology for decades now and I honestly wouldn't mind the push forward in technology, even if the 3.5mm standard is so widespread. Apple seems like the only behemoth that could pull this off. People went crazy when they ditched CDs/ DVDs, but where are they now?
And I'd really like a pair of wireless AirPods.
There is no "ditching of analog."
Our ears can only hear music in analog. We seem to believe that getting rid of an analog port and using a digital port is better but soon after departing that digital port, the signal must be converted to analog. The "problem"- if there is one (is there?)- is not the jack, but the DAC. And the future iPhone without a 3.5mm jack will still have to have a DAC inside so that it can work as a phone. The change is that there will also have to be ANOTHER DAC
outside because Apple decides it wants to jettison that jack, presumably for "thinner."
There has been arguments- even pseudo training- that preserving analog in digital form until closer to final output (audio or video) is a good thing. There's even some truth in that. But here, we're talking about preserving digital audio to either the adapter attached to the phone (a measurement of mm) or maybe up into a DAC built into the "cans" of headphones at the other extreme. Since this is an audio playing device, the distances involved is arms length at best. Our ears will not be able to hear a difference in preserving audio as digital for such a short additional distance. Nobody has 100-foot arms.
Some ears may be able to hear a difference of converting digital audio to analog through a better-quality DAC but the- IMO- better solution to that would be to build a better DAC
inside a future iPhone where there has to be a DAC anyway, rather than have us jumping through some new hoops to involve a second DAC. For what gain (for us consumers) exactly? Is "thinner" still (actually) important to us (and I mean really? not because we think Apple wants to go there but we really do want an even thinner iPhone)? Do we not care about carrying the saved weight in a separate device (an adapter(s)) so we can also use our headphones with other devices?
As to wanting wireless earbuds, they already exist. If one thinks that's the better way, that way is already available. Go get 'em.
Those believing Lightning-terminated headphones will be so much better can buy Lightning-terminated headphones already. Go get them.
Options are good. If Bluetooth or Lightning is subjectively better, we already have those options available to us as individual consumers. But trying to force change by eliminating utility in mainstream ubiquity doesn't sit well with me. Even Apple's other products show that "thinner" can be achieved WITH a 3.5mm in place.
/s 
