Of course, your fascinating read is mostly about mechanical 35mm cameras.

Before I go into m Foveon nuttiness ;) Japan's genius, in my book, is that is simplified and modernized the look and feel of 35mm cameras (with the advances you mentioned).

I used to have an Exacta. I hated it. I didn't know anything about who you wrote about, being 11 years-old and all that ;) Every night I went to bed with Popular Photography dreaming of a Pentax Spotmatic. What a beautiful camera!

A reason the Lieca MP sold well I believe (I have my father's) is that it too, simplified (thanks to Japanese) the Lecia and is still one of the most beautiful cameras with the also beautiful looking Summicron 40mm.

Japan found the perfect balance between giving the owner a feeling of technical power and aesthetics. Fuji especially continues that tradition.

Anyway, Foveon. It is the ONLY real difference between digital cameras. All bayer cameras produce the same image, IMO. Foveon has lots of problems, mostly being very slow. But it IS different.

Anyway, GREAT, GREAT piece. Thoroughly enjoyed!