Lots of people - possibly outside of thhe USA - have to go for DAYS without a power source - perhaps because they work (or play) away from home/ I normally keep a stack of four batteries charged. While this usage pattern my not be common in America and Japan, it is for much of the world.
As for removable SD car - I want to be able to instantly swap content OUT as much as in. I do not want to take one client's data onto another's premises ever. And I may have recreational content I do not want in the work place. I would guess a lot of people would like to be able to swap out the porn when they go to work/partner's house, etc.
I used to be an HTC user - but they stopped removable batteries and SD cards, so I switched to Samsung. I LIKE the plastic back. Doesn't break or scratch - and anyway, I only have my phone out of the fake leather case when I am changing the battery or SD card (or using it for satnav).
Thinness? WTF? Functionality is 1,000 times more important than appearance to most users. Curved screen edges? how breakable is that? a $700 device that won't last a month in the real world? If I wanted an iPhone, I would buy an iPhone.
My first response to the announcement was to check out Xaiomi. My sister-in-law (not a tecchie) - whose contract was up, and was waiting to hear the announcement - won't be buying this. I cant see many people over 30 who will.