Originally posted by K-9 You're answering to my side of this argument, and I'm not sure you even realize it.
With the cell phone being the easier tool, it's a harder sell for that crowd who will no longer be able to take easy selfies. I personally hate the distortion you get when using your front facing phone or iPad camera.
Actually, I do realize it and I reject the argument that this camera should be for selfies. That is something made up here - or by Ricoh USA.
This is a very good mid-range camera with a 100% coverage .95x optical viewfinder. It is built for people who take pictures from the rear of a camera, not the front. Using this for selfies would just be stupid. Adding features that you'd use for selfies would be a waste of cost in a competitive price point. Substituting selfie features for useful features (say the 100% OVF or the metal frame) would change the character of the camera.
Hinged LCD is for : Tripods, low angle or uncomfortable positions and some waist-level.
WiFi is for: - I'm not sure what beyond remote control and maybe production tethering, but certainly not Instagram (and there is an OEM and a third-party optional accessory for those who want to link their camera to a mobile device). There is a far more efficient technology already available for file transfer - take the card out; insert it in your computer USB or card slot.
LED's are for: the same thing a flashing red countdown timer is for. Just a different emulation of the same feature.
I'll concede there are legitimate, photographic uses for a hinged LCD. If it is justified on a 645Z it is justified on every dSLR Pentax makes, but not for selfies. There is no other
real, useful reason to add the other features to a Pentax camera. Pentax made a business decision to implement a different solution to the need. If we don't like their decision, we know what to do.