So I have been thinking a lot about my choice in phone like most people on the forums. And I am slowly moving towards a decision, and most of you may not care about my personal decision since the only decision when it comes to phones that should matter is yours.
My current desires are a 4G LTE and I would prefer a dual core device. While none of this has been proven, I am starting to draw my own conclusions and pictures:
1) I don't want a slider/physical keyboard. I would think that the Stratosphere may be the 4G slider we saw a glimpse of a while back. CK pointed out that as recent as June that the name / device was registered. @P3Droid tweeted that he was not hearing the GSII was hitting Verizon (maybe just 3rd Q) and that we should not hold our breath for the device. @P3Droid later mentioned that might have been an unfair leap, but he did not expect it. Maybe I'm wrong, but then again, I am not in the know so I am just putting things I read from various sources together. BMPanda has noted so many times that the GSII is the best device he has used that not being able to compare it in the mix of current releases does seem a shame.
2) I'm not interested in an i-Phone. <-- This has been proven. The keys seem so small to my big paws (I mean fat fingers).
3) I guess I am currently labeled a Moto fanboy because I started with an OG Droid and then purchased outright a Droid X when I decided that I didn't want a keyboard. Im used to their less than colorful displays and when I went to check out the D3s screen it was pretty good. I didn't mind it. Sure I see the advantages of Super Amoled+, but its like my Vizio against a cutting edge Samsung TV. Unless next to each other, I wouldn't know their was a difference. But again - look at it and make a check on your list if you can live with it.
4) My OG Droid was rooted all the time with new ROMs and things going on by the minute. With the Droid X I obviously just rooted, but as time went on I stopped OCing and obviously with GB I stopped Tethering. Now I still use Ad suppressors and Bootstrappers (for backup images). So Root is still important to me. I might take the plunge on CM7 nighlies to see if there is still a desire to ROM it up.
5) @P3Droid recently noted that the build quality on the D3 was top notch. I have read several other comments on the D3 forums to note that. I say that because it is the "other" flagship model that I see for Motorola. My Moto's have held up well. In two years of usage I have never had to use insurance and have had a drop or two of the devices... they seem solid. I like that quality of build. My friends DINC2 seems solid too, and I actually like the design. I have never owned a true Sense phone (a ROM or two maybe), but Sense does seem really solid as overlays go.
With all this in mind - the Bionic still seems to fit my mold. Do I think Moto has been dragging on this one? Sure. Will it be worth the wait? Probably not. Will it still be a solid phone - absolutely. I hope they took this time to work the battery life issues out of it but only time will tell.
I guess in the end what I am trying to say is - step back and weigh the + and - of devices in September. I always want more power, more functions... but the reality says that I need to figure out what I would be happy with and enjoy it. It looks like the first gen of 4G LTE phones are up for replacement soon. I am not sure any phone is 2 year futureproof that we have any real understanding of that will be out this year. And while a pure Google phone may be more futureproof than other Android models, will Verizon allow it? Will it come out this year? Will it actually have rumored specs? Heck - Quad Core models in 2012! Course by then I will have been using my dual core for 1 year and enjoying the benefits of the phone.
So long story short - make a list of your real desires and make your choices on that. For me (sitting on my last NE2 discount), the Bionic should be a solid device.. and while no Prime.. its no slouch if you can live with those items that make it "not perfect in your mind".