Selfishly, I do hope they kill the scared cows.
So that they attain godhood.
Regardless, I think its premature to delve too much into the 'what it could have beens' for the lenses.
I'm sure the optical engineers are no fools and certainly know of the pros/cons of doing the various possibilities of new coatings, AF, etc.
All this of course under the real world constraints of budget and time.
So just use the lenses if one already have them, and no harm getting them if one does not have them and like the look that it gives (as well as the small size/portability and build)
Any new lens is not going to instantly turn any old ones into instant junk.