It's just the other way round. The application covers are a dumbed down version of widgets. They're less flexible, less powerful.

Application covers are all the same size. They cannot be tailored to their function. Same for the UI, you just can't implement something like, say, Symbian's favorite contacts widget with a Sailfish cover. Scrolling just won't work. All fixed size, fixed shape, reduced UI. I don't see the increased power and flexibility.

Also, the whole point of widgets is that they stay where you put them, that you use them to customize your desktop. The application covers come and go as you open and close applications, plus there seems to be a restriction of only 9 of them at the same time.

Sure. And if I'm lucky, I'll have fonts small enough to make the whole headlines visible on a 3x3 grid of covers, and large enough to make them still readable. Because you can't do what you would with a widget: make it wide. I'm not sure if auto-scrolling withing the cover will work (covers seemed to be pretty static in the videos) or if I could define a different URL to open in the browser for each headline right from the cover. (I understood that tapping on the cover just opens the program, no watter where you tap within the area... as long as you dont drag left or right.)

I think we agree on this paragraph. Promising, yes. I will miss the widgets, I will miss true multitasking, but I'll happily welcome a free OS. Fresh and new, yes... Just that you seem to assume that fresh and new is always good.