Do people forget why Samsung did things like glass backs and curved screens? It was to make it feel more "premium" and less iPhone. For years, people bitched about how the phone didn't feel "premium" in the hand in comparing it to the iPhone. I never had a problem with it, but even a lot of fans kept moaning about how they didn't like the plastic feel. Well, people got what they wanted - a premium feel at the cost of a more vulnerable phone. No one complains about it not feeling premium anymore, but no one complained about the back of the Note 4 being scratched either.
High price tag does not and has never equaled indestructible. As the phones get more elegant, they become more vulnerable. In my opinion, as phones have been made more 'premium', they have also become more vulnerable - and when they do things like use improved glass or other things to make the premium phone more sturdy - it's just merely an attempt at making it as sturdy as the old non-premium looking phones. Every time a new phone comes out, there is always talk about Gorilla Glass version X and whether not a case is needed. If you never used a case before, you won't now - and if you've always used a case, you will now - so I think there is way too much concentration on the Gorilla Glass and not enough concentration on how to handle phones and how not to handle it more carelessly just because it has Gorilla Glass 25 or something.
As I finish this, I realize I am not sure what I am trying to say other than Samsung was forced into producing these types of premium phones by the people, the media, and those who were more concerned more about form over function. We need to do what we feel is necessary to protect and care for our phones.