The point, I think, and one I'm mildly concerned about, is not about connection type, but about poor offline function. The assumption of ubiquitous connectivity can lead to sloppiness, such as bailing on lack of connection, rather than falling back on cache or local resources.
Why, indeed. Might ask ZeroJay about how Canada+Discount codes=Hilarity.
No-hardware-keys FUD? (Which does concern me deeply, just not for the RX-51, or probably any Fremantle-era device.)