This. People (on both sides) are so hung up on just the SD card aspect, but it's really the sum total that I feel is going to cause a huge drop off in sales. Apple can get away with charging $849 for a 64GB high end phone, I don't feel that's going to be the case with Samsung. Not to mention with the current trend of contracts going the way of the dodo and people having to pay retail for the phones, it's not good news for Samsung. But yes, I concur with jlczl. Removing the SD card, sealing the battery in, only offering up to 64GB storage, jacking up the prices, including charging $100 more for extra storage (again I think only Apple can get away with this), and cheaper options hitting the market (Moto X Pure). It's really a perfect storm of bad news for Samsung.
I do know their sales have been trending down since 2013 as has been said, but Samsung apparently thought that trying to copy Apple was the way to stop the slide. I do think they had the right thought with moving more towards a premium feel, but they could have done that and kept the features they removed.