Thanks to all for contributing to this lively discussion!
To be clear, I never suggested, nor intended to imply, that the introduction of the X100s rendered the X100 "useless" or "valueless" - and certainly has no bearing on the vast wealth of wonderful imagery created on the X100, by artists and amateurs alike. A camera is merely a tool for capturing light, a means to an end. I am into digital to get the electronic control it offers and hope to be as close to film as possible – at this point, digital has passed Velvia, for instance, in dynamic range, but is far far away from surpassing it in resolution.
This subject is dealt with quite succinctly by Ken Rockwell:
Film Resolution: The Pixel Count of Film
So, rather than chasing technology for its own sake, I am always interested in “developments” that bring digital closer to film. Will the X100s not do that by incorporating the X-trans sensor? Isn’t the X100 “suddenly behind the times” - certainly not “useless”, but also not current (as of ~27 March)?
My motivation for the post was, on the one hand realizing that my daughter's 1Ds II had lost over 80% of its value in 6 years (though she still produces prize winning work with it) and, on the other, that the introduction of the X100s put the brakes on my intention to get an X-E1 - because the X100s has, more or less, all the features I would want in an X body. So, I just wanted to throw out the idea that if digital cameras had interchangeable sensors (something that Ricoh is doing, in its own way) we could extend the usable life of our tools past 1 or 2 product cycles.
Fuji has a good deal of respect for us as photographers. Respect for us as consumers, certainly less so - as exemplified by any company (hello Olympus!) with a practice of releasing its upper echelon products in "Limited Edition Black" version. So, I will not hold my breath waiting for interchangeable sensors anytime soon.