Originally posted by clawhammer I totally agree with you that 4/3's hasn't shown equivalent IQ in the high-end market, but what I was trying to say is that the people who are buying these cameras (step-up P&S buyers, new photographers) probably won't notice/need the difference in IQ.
I agree with that, but I also wouldn't write off this system as just something P&S users and soccer moms would be interested in. I myself am far from a pro, but I do have a photography degree and it is a very important hobby for me. I feel as though I can get by just fine with a MFT's system. The IQ advantage APS-C offers are so minimal it's not worth worrying about to me. Besides, I post process the shit out of any photo I care about anyway.
I simply see this type of camera as the future. I have no need for a mirror box what so ever. I manually focus over half the time anyway. Besides, from what I've read the G1's AF speed is right on par with entry level SLR's. Plus AF accuracy isn't too important for me since I mainly shoot inanimate objects, landscapes, and street scenes anyway. I could easily make due with a MFT's system for the next decade until FF mirrorless cameras start coming out. Even then I would want to be in both systems, one for portability, one for high IQ.
I'm all for Pentax's rich tradition of supporting legacy systems, but at some point technology will force them to drop that if they want to advance; and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are the future. Their only real drawback at the moment is AF speed and no optical VF. However, EVF's will continue to progress and so will AF speed. Eventually the mirror box will be as archaic as the dry plate is now.