Personally, I'm curious to see what Android can be when it isn't constrained by the carriers. For one thing, it just might be totally open. Maybe even more open than Maemo, no?

Also, for me, I'd be happy with a really lightweight model, which means no keyboard, which is OK with me if it's well-done. I wish the sucker would have a 4" screen, but at this point, that's dreaming.

[Edit: Turns out it's not dreaming. It's expected to be physically very similar to the HTC Passion/HD2, which means a 4.3" screen, 5-1/2 ounces total weight, and still a microSD card -- exactly the form factor I want.]

I understand people are critical of the way everything is built on java, and there's been unhappiness with the Android App Store. But maybe this one will be better: heck, remember when Motorola came out with "the first iPod phone," which was garbage? Maybe that's how Google feels about what's done to their Android. As for the programming/java-based limitations, I just don't know enough.

I root for Maemo. But even for FOSS advocates, this could possibly be a real temptation.

Alternatively, it just might put a chink in the carriers' wall.